Do you know who murdered Ashley Armstrong? In the early moments of a Wednesday morning, the life of 20-year-old Ashley Armstrong, an African-American nursing student from Danbury, was tragically cut short in New Haven. On May 16, 2012, just after midnight, she was behind the wheel of her black Volkswagen Jetta, preparing to drive away from a gathering with friends on Shelton Avenue. With four other young women in her car, she was set to follow another vehicle carrying male acquaintances to a different location after concerns were raised
about making too much noise. As they began to pull away, an unknown gunman emerged and opened fire on her vehicle.
Struck by the gunfire, Armstrong was gravely wounded but managed to drive about a block and a half before her car came to a stop near the corner of Munson Street and Shelton Avenue. Police and emergency responders arrived to find her slumped over in the driver's seat. She was rushed to the Hospital of St. Raphael, where she was pronounced dead shortly after arriving. An autopsy would later reveal she died from a single gunshot wound to the chest. Miraculously, none of the four other passengers in the car were injured in the shooting.
The New Haven Police Department's Major Crimes Unit immediately launched an investigation into the homicide. Detectives canvassed the scene at 84 Shelton Avenue, collecting evidence and speaking with the cooperative occupants of both cars. In the initial stages of the investigation, police stated it was too early to determine a motive or whether Armstrong or anyone else in her car was the intended target. Despite their efforts and the passage of time, no arrests have ever been made in connection with Ashley Armstrong's murder. The gunman remains at large, and her case is now considered a cold case. Police have continued to appeal to the public for any information that could lead to a breakthrough and bring closure to her family.
