On the evening of April 1, 2025, a burst of gunfire shattered the quiet of a Hartford, Connecticut neighborhood, leaving a family grieving and a community in search of answers. Michael Coleman, a 50-year-old Black / African American man, was found unresponsive in the roadway in the 80 block of Vine Street. Responding to a ShotSpotter notification around 6:50 p.m., Hartford police discovered Coleman with a gunshot wound to the stomach.
He was rushed to a nearby hospital, but his life could not be saved, and he was pronounced dead.
The initial hours of the investigation saw the Hartford Police Department's Major Crimes and Crime Scene Divisions descending on Vine Street, collecting evidence and seeking to piece together the events that led to the fatal shooting. Investigators recovered shell casings from the scene and began speaking with a potential witness. Early reports indicated that a suspect was seen fleeing the area in a black vehicle, heading toward Albany Avenue. In the days that followed, the community mourned, with organizations like Mothers United Against Violence holding vigils to honor Coleman's memory and call for justice.
For months, the investigation continued as detectives worked to identify the person responsible for Michael Coleman's death. Their efforts eventually led to a breakthrough. On July 23, 2025, the Hartford Police Fugitive Task Force, along with the Violent Crimes Unit, took 38-year-old Denton Young of Windsor Locks into custody. An arrest warrant had been issued after investigators established probable cause, which was then approved by a Superior Court judge. Young was charged with murder in connection with Coleman's death and was held on a $2 million bond.
