In the early morning hours of December 2, 2016, the life of 37-year-old Ricky Ward was tragically cut short in his hometown of Hempstead, New York. A male resident of the community, Ward was walking home when he was fatally shot.
Just after midnight, at approximately 12:25 a.m., the ShotSpotter system, a network of acoustic sensors designed to detect and locate gunfire, alerted the Hempstead Village Police to a shooting on the 100 block of Elizabeth Avenue.
When officers arrived at the scene near the corner of Elizabeth Avenue and Baldwin Road, they discovered Ward lying on the ground with an apparent gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 12:36 a.m.
The shooting occurred just days after a community meeting where residents and village officials had gathered to discuss concerns about local crime, including a recent increase in gang activity. Ironically, the discussion had included the implementation of crime-fighting measures such as linking cameras to the very ShotSpotter system that reported Ward's shooting.
Despite the efforts of the Nassau County Police Department's Homicide Squad, who are leading the investigation, no arrests have been made in connection with Ricky Ward's murder. The case remains unsolved. Detectives have been actively seeking information from the public and have urged anyone with knowledge of the shooting to come forward. Authorities have been reviewing video footage from the area and continue to follow up on any leads in the ongoing investigation. The community has been urged to assist in bringing justice for Ricky Ward and his family.
