On a spring morning in New Haven, Connecticut, the life of a 40-year-old Black / African American man, Marquis Darnell McNeil, was brought to a violent end. Early on April 1, 2023, the sound of nine gunshots shattered the peace on Winthrop Avenue, prompting a flurry of 911 calls. When police arrived at the scene shortly before 8 a.m., they discovered McNeil and another man, 27-year-old Jonathan Garcia, inside a parked Acura MDX, both suffering from gunshot wounds.
McNeil, who was in the driver's seat, was pronounced dead at the scene. Garcia, the passenger, was rushed to Yale New Haven Hospital but succumbed to his injuries shortly after arrival. Investigators believe that both men were specifically targeted.
At the scene of the crime, officers encountered 39-year-old Cadell Harris. Harris, who was on parole at the time, was described as uncooperative and belligerent, reportedly telling officers to "shoot me" and "kill me." He was taken into custody after a confrontation, initially for interfering with an officer. A firearm was recovered nearby the parked Acura. While initially labeled a "person of interest," the investigation soon solidified Harris as the prime suspect.
Months later, in July 2023, the New Haven Police Department announced formal charges against Cadell Harris for the deaths of McNeil and Garcia. The case against him was built on a combination of evidence, including video footage of the shooting, witness statements, and crucial DNA and ballistic evidence. Investigators confirmed that Harris's DNA was found on the handgun used in the double homicide. He was subsequently charged with two counts of murder, criminal possession of a firearm, and carrying a pistol without a permit, with his bond set at $5 million.
