On the evening of September 13, 2024, tragedy struck in Hartford, Connecticut, when 56-year-old Yakpoaro Kollie was found with a fatal gunshot wound. The incident occurred at approximately 7:37 p.m. in the vicinity of the 1000 block of Capitol Avenue, where responding police officers discovered Mr. Kollie unresponsive in the roadway. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
An obituary described Yakpawolo Amos Kollie, affectionately known as "Kollie," as a man who had immigrated to the United States from Liberia in 2004 and settled in Hartford. He was a mechanic by trade, both in Liberia and in the U.S., and was known for his love of working on cars.
The investigation into the shooting was conducted by the Hartford Police Department's Major Crimes and Crime Scene divisions. For months, the case remained under investigation as authorities worked to identify a suspect. Their efforts eventually led them to 18-year-old Kaylon Williams of Hartford. At the time he was identified as the suspect, Williams was already in custody on unrelated charges.
In July 2025, a significant development was announced in the case. Kaylon Williams was arrested and charged in connection with the death of Yakpoaro Kollie. He faces a number of serious charges, including felony murder, conspiracy to commit third-degree larceny, third-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit larceny of a motor vehicle, larceny of a motor vehicle, conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery, and first-degree robbery. Following the new charges, his bond was set at $2 million. The arrest brought a measure of progress to a case that had been under intense investigation for over ten months.
