On a summer night in East Haven, Connecticut, the life of 26-year-old Julius Bolden-Lowe of Southington was tragically cut short. On August 6, 2022, the Black / African American man was at Bullseye Billiards & Bar on Main Street when an altercation broke out. The dispute, which began inside the establishment, escalated into physical violence and ultimately led to gunfire in the early morning hours, around 1:30 a.m.
Bolden-Lowe was one of three people shot during the incident.
Emergency services transported all three victims to Yale New Haven Hospital. Tragically, Bolden-Lowe succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. The two other victims were also treated for their injuries. In the aftermath of the shooting, the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection suspended the liquor license of Bullseye Billiards & Bar, citing public safety concerns. Police had reportedly been called to the bar for previous incidents, including fights.
For more than two years, the investigation into Bolden-Lowe's death continued. Law enforcement agencies, including the East Haven Police Investigative Services Division, Connecticut State Police Major Crimes, the FBI, and the DEA, worked tirelessly on the case. Their extensive investigation led to a significant development on October 8, 2024, with the arrest of a suspect.
Willie Jamel Thompson, a 47-year-old from New Haven, was taken into custody by the New Haven Safe Streets Task Force without incident. Thompson was charged with murder, criminal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, criminal possession of a pistol/revolver by a convicted felon, and carrying a pistol without a permit. He was held on a $2 million bond and was scheduled for a court appearance the following day. The arrest brought a sense of hope for justice to Bolden-Lowe's family and the community.
