In the early morning hours of June 4, 2023, the life of a 26-year-old Black man, Akeem Campbell, was tragically cut short in Waterbury, Connecticut. The incident unfolded around 5 a.m. when police responded to reports of gunfire in the vicinity of North Main and Division streets. Upon their arrival, officers discovered an unoccupied vehicle in the roadway that showed evidence of having been shot.
It was soon determined that Campbell had been transported to Saint Mary's Hospital by
private means for treatment of a gunshot wound. Despite the efforts of medical staff, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the hospital. The Waterbury Police Department subsequently launched a homicide investigation into his death.
In the months that followed, investigators worked to identify the person responsible for Campbell's death. Their efforts led them to a suspect in Virginia. In August 2023, Christopher Eason, a 36-year-old resident of Virginia, was taken into custody by local authorities in Virginia. Waterbury police detectives then traveled to Virginia to extradite Eason back to Connecticut to face charges.
Eason was charged with murder, criminal use of a weapon, possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle, and several other firearm offenses. His bond was set at $10 million. The arrest brought a measure of progress in the ongoing investigation into the violent death of Akeem Campbell, a young man from their community.
