On a cold January evening in New Haven, Connecticut, a dispute turned fatal, forever altering the lives of those involved. Kentel Robinson, a 30-year-old Black / African American man, was on Chapel Street, between Beers and Orchard streets, on the night of January 4, 2023. An argument reportedly erupted over a PlayStation gaming console, a seemingly trivial matter that would soon escalate with tragic consequences.
Around 9:30 p.m., the sound of gunfire pierced the night.
Officers responded to a 911 call and discovered Robinson suffering from gunshot wounds. He was rushed to Yale New Haven Hospital, where he fought for his life for three days before succumbing to his injuries on January 7, 2023. His death marked the third homicide in New Haven just a week into the new year.
Detectives from the Major Crimes Unit immediately launched an investigation, collecting ballistic evidence from the scene. Their efforts led them to identify a suspect: 22-year-old Omar Nelson of Bridgeport. For months, Nelson remained at large, a fugitive with multiple outstanding warrants for other alleged crimes. The relentless search for him culminated on May 4, 2023, when U.S. Marshals, acting on a tip, located him hiding in the attic of a relative's home in Bridgeport.
Nelson was taken into custody and charged with the murder of Kentel Robinson. According to the arrest warrant, video footage of the incident showed Nelson pulling out a gun during the dispute and shooting Robinson multiple times. Following his arrest, he was held on a $2 million bond, bringing a measure of progress in a case that began with a senseless act of violence on a city street.
