Ty-Leeyah Jamison, a 17-year-old girl from Hartford, Connecticut, is remembered by those who loved her as a beautiful soul with a radiant smile. Friends and family recall her as a sweet, kind, and funny person who brought joy to their lives. She was a beloved daughter, granddaughter, sister, niece, and friend whose life was filled with promise. Ty-Leeyah was a student at Weaver High School, where she was a member of the Class of 2027.
Her sudden and violent death left her family and the wider Hartford community reeling with grief and searching for answers.
On the evening of Wednesday, October 21, 2026, Ty-Leeyah was with a friend on the front porch of a home on East Raymond Street in the city's Northeast neighborhood. A small gathering was taking place when, just before 7 p.m., a person approached the residence and opened fire. The city’s ShotSpotter system detected 11 rounds being fired in rapid succession. Both Ty-Leeyah and her 17-year-old friend were struck by the gunfire. When Hartford Police officers arrived at the scene, they found the two girls suffering from gunshot wounds. Both were rushed to a local hospital for treatment. Tragically, Ty-Leeyah Jamison was pronounced dead. The other teenager was hospitalized and listed in stable condition.
The Hartford Police Department’s Major Crimes and Crime Scene Divisions immediately took over the investigation. Investigators believe the shooting was not a random act of violence. According to Hartford Police Lt. Aaron Boisvert, preliminary information suggested that the two girls were specifically targeted. The motive may have stemmed from an altercation or dispute that had occurred in the days leading up to the shooting. Police stated that the shooter either walked or drove up to the residence and fired multiple shots at the porch where the girls were gathered.
Detectives began canvassing the neighborhood, seeking to interview witnesses and collect evidence. They believe that people at the gathering saw what happened and that video of the incident may exist. In the immediate aftermath, community advocates expressed their sorrow and frustration over the violence that claimed another young life. Jendayi Scott-Miller, the CEO of a local nonprofit, described a "dark cloud" over the city and spoke of the unimaginable pain the victim's family was experiencing.
In the days following the shooting, Ty-Leeyah's family and friends gathered to mourn their loss. They remembered her infectious laugh and the light she brought into their lives. A balloon release was held in her memory, where loved ones shared stories and comforted one another, grappling with the senselessness of her death. The community was left to mourn a teenager who had her whole life ahead of her, a life cut short by a burst of gunfire on a fall evening.
As of late October 2026, the investigation into Ty-Leeyah Jamison's homicide is ongoing. The Hartford Police Department has not publicly identified a suspect or made any arrests in the case. They continue to urge anyone with information to come forward and assist in bringing justice to Ty-Leeyah and her family. A reward may be available for information that leads to an arrest and conviction. The Hartford Police Department Tip Line can be reached at 860-722-TIPS (8477).
