On the afternoon of October 3, 2024, Chevoyia Sky Rivers, a 30-year-old Black/African American male from Manchester, Connecticut, was fatally shot in Hartford. The incident unfolded around 1:13 p.m. on Florence Street, where Hartford police responded to a report of gunfire and a person down. Upon their arrival, officers discovered Rivers unresponsive, suffering from a gunshot wound.
First responders immediately began life-saving measures until emergency medical services arrived and transported him to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
The investigation into the homicide, led by the Hartford Police Major Crimes and Crime Scene Divisions, soon uncovered evidence of a dispute that occurred just before the shooting. Video footage obtained by detectives showed an altercation between Rivers and another man. This evidence was crucial in identifying a suspect in the fatal shooting. Friends and family were left to mourn the unexpected and tragic loss of a man they described as a devoted father to his four children, a cherished son and brother, and a loyal friend known for his big smile and his willingness to help others.
Following a thorough investigation, police identified 43-year-old Elvin Gonzalez of New London as the suspect. An arrest warrant was issued, and on October 12, 2024, Gonzalez was located and taken into custody by Hartford police. He is facing multiple charges, including murder, criminal possession of a firearm, and criminal attempt to commit assault in the first degree. Gonzalez was being held on a $2 million bond following his arrest.
