Terrence Cramer, a 41-year-old male, was an active-duty Bridgeport firefighter whose life was cut short in the early morning hours of March 28, 2026, in Stratford, Connecticut. Police were called to a home on Feeley Street at about 1:44 a.m. after a report of a shooting. When officers arrived, they found Cramer bleeding heavily from a gunshot wound.
Paramedics responded, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Cramer was from Bridgeport and had served with the Bridgeport Fire Department for more than nine years, working at Engine 6 on Central Avenue. He was remembered by fellow firefighters as dependable, humble, friendly, and fearless on the job. His death hit the department hard, with firefighters and city officials describing him as a beloved public servant, a devoted father, and someone whose presence lifted the firehouse. He left behind two sons, and after his death, the Bridgeport firefighters union organized fundraisers to support his children.
Investigators quickly identified Jabari Bush, 41, of West Haven, as the suspect. Police said Bush was connected to the woman who was inside the Stratford home with Cramer that night. According to court documents described in news reports, Bush was the woman’s ex-boyfriend and allegedly entered the home shortly before 2 a.m., found her with Cramer, and reacted in anger. The warrant said Bush shouted that she was there with another man, punched the woman in the face, and then shot Cramer. One report said responding officers found Cramer on the bedroom floor with a gunshot wound to his right thigh.
After the shooting, police searched for Bush and took him into custody later that day in Derby after a brief motor vehicle pursuit. Stratford police were assisted by several agencies, including police from New Haven, Seymour, Shelton, Derby, and Connecticut State Police. Bush was charged with murder, home invasion, and criminal possession of a firearm. Reports also noted that he had a prior felony conviction, including a 2004 assault conviction, which was part of the reason he faced the firearm possession charge.
Bush appeared in Bridgeport Superior Court on March 30, 2026, where dozens of Bridgeport firefighters packed the courtroom in support of Cramer. Prosecutors described the case as involving a relationship conflict, and the arrest warrant portrayed Bush as having been fixated on his ex-girlfriend before the killing, including allegedly sending unwanted calls and text messages and showing up at her workplace days before the shooting. A judge set Bush’s bond at $3 million, though earlier police reporting listed a $2 million court-set bond before the arraignment. As of the latest available reports, Bush was being held while the murder case moved forward in court.
