Chase Garrett, a 39-year-old Black / African American man, was tragically killed on Sunday, June 19, 2022, in Hartford, Connecticut. The incident, which also claimed the life of his 27-year-old girlfriend, Christina Dang, stemmed from what authorities described as a minor dispute over a dog that escalated into deadly violence. The shooting occurred outside an apartment building on Franklin Avenue, where the couple resided with their four-month-old son, Chosen-One.
The events of that
evening left a community in mourning and a family shattered. Garrett's family remembered him as a loving father, a fashion enthusiast with his own clothing line called "Chase Dreamz," and a man with a "beautiful spirit" who was deeply devoted to his family. He was known for his kindness and willingness to help others, a man who "would give you everything he had and ask for nothing in return." The tragedy of his death was compounded by the fact that he and his girlfriend left behind their infant son, who was temporarily taken into the custody of the Department of Children and Families before being placed with relatives. A third individual, a woman in her 20s believed to be the dog's owner, was also shot and critically injured during the altercation.
In the wake of the shooting, Hartford police identified 31-year-old Donovan McFarlane as a person of interest. McFarlane, who was also wounded in the incident, turned himself in to the police to speak with detectives. While the investigation into the double homicide continued, McFarlane was arrested and charged with criminal possession of a firearm. Family and friends of Chase Garrett gathered for a prayer vigil to remember a man they described as a scholar, an entrepreneur, a designer, and an artist, forever changing the lives of those who knew and loved him.
