On a summer afternoon in Ansonia, Connecticut, the life of 30-year-old Abduljalil Humphrey, a Black / African American male, was tragically cut short. On July 14, 2023, Humphrey was found in the driveway of a residence on Hodge Avenue, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Emergency services were called to the scene around 1:40 p.m. following several 911 calls from residents who reported hearing shots fired.
Humphrey was quickly transported to Griffin Hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.
The initial investigation by the Ansonia Police Department revealed a complex and grim scenario. Two vehicles were identified as being involved in the incident. One was Humphrey's own car, a black 2019 Hyundai Elantra, which was stolen from the scene after the shooting. The other was a stolen red 2018 Chevrolet Malibu Premier, which police believed the suspect was driving just before the homicide. The investigation into Humphrey's death was extensive, involving multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Derby, Shelton, and Middletown police departments, as well as the Connecticut State Police and the state's forensic laboratory.
In the months that followed, the investigation led to the arrests of two individuals. In November 2023, 18-year-old Jada Artis of Ansonia was arrested and charged with felony murder, first-degree robbery, conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery, and hindering prosecution. Police alleged that Artis was an accomplice who drove one of the vehicles involved in the crime. The investigation suggested that Artis and a second suspect, 20-year-old Sahvon Valentine of Hartford, had planned to rob Humphrey. Artis allegedly arranged to meet Humphrey under the pretense of buying marijuana.
The second suspect, Sahvon Valentine, was identified by police as the shooter. At the time of Artis's arrest, Valentine was already in custody on unrelated charges. In December 2023, Valentine was formally charged with felony murder, murder, first-degree robbery, conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery, criminal possession of a firearm, and theft of a firearm. Surveillance footage from the scene reportedly showed Humphrey meeting with someone believed to be Artis in his car. A man in black clothing and a mask, identified as Valentine, was then seen getting out of the nearby Chevrolet Malibu and into Humphrey's vehicle just as Artis exited. The footage then captured movements consistent with a firearm being discharged. Following the shooting, Artis was allegedly seen fleeing in the Chevrolet, while Valentine drove off in Humphrey's Hyundai. Both suspects are now facing the consequences of their alleged actions in the death of Abduljalil Humphrey.
