In the late hours of August 6, 2022, the life of 29-year-old Adelaida Latorres-Toro, a female resident of Hartford, Connecticut, was tragically cut short. Inside an apartment on Colonial Street, she was found suffering from a gunshot wound. Despite the efforts of first responders who provided medical aid until medics arrived, Latorres-Toro was pronounced dead at the scene.
The incident was quickly ruled a homicide, marking the city's 24th of the year.
The investigation into her death began immediately, with detectives from the Major Crime and Crime Scene divisions responding to the apartment to conduct interviews and gather evidence. From the outset, police believed the shooting was not a random act. A person of interest was detained at the scene for questioning on the night of the incident. This individual was identified as 31-year-old Weslie Mendez, who was reportedly Latorres-Toro's boyfriend. Although not immediately charged with her murder, he was taken into custody for a parole violation that same night.
After a thorough investigation, Hartford police arrested Weslie Mendez in connection with the fatal shooting. He was charged with murder and criminal possession of a firearm. Authorities confirmed that Mendez had been a person of interest since the beginning of the investigation. Following his arrest, he was held on a $2 million bond.
