In the pre-dawn hours of a Sunday in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the quiet of Black Rock Avenue was broken by a grim discovery. On December 12, 2021, a 42-year-old Caucasian male named Michael Harrigan was found unresponsive inside his vehicle. Police had been called to the scene around 4:44 a.m. and, upon arrival, they found that Harrigan had sustained a fatal gunshot wound.
News of the death of the Bridgeport man, a father of two sons and a talented artist, quickly spread, leaving friends and family in deep distress. Those who knew him, including a childhood friend who had become a City Council member, remembered him as a brother and a creative soul who had taught his own son to draw.
The investigation into the city's 20th homicide of the year began immediately, with detectives actively working the case. Their efforts eventually led them to a suspect from Waterbury. In March 2022, police arrested Jacque Richard, then 26 years old, in connection with Harrigan's death. Investigators determined that the motive was a robbery gone tragically wrong. Surveillance footage from the area showed two men, both armed, approaching Harrigan's car. After a brief and violent encounter, they fled the scene. A crucial piece of evidence came from blood droplets found inside the car, which, through DNA analysis, were matched to Richard, who had prior felony convictions. Richard was subsequently charged with murder, felony murder, first-degree robbery, and several firearm offenses.
While one suspect was in custody, authorities announced they were still searching for the second man who acted as Richard's accomplice in the fatal robbery attempt. The community and Harrigan's grieving family sought justice, which saw a significant development in early 2025. Jacque Richard, then 29, pleaded guilty to charges of felony murder, first-degree robbery, and criminal possession of a firearm. His open plea meant there was no pre-arranged deal on his prison time, leaving him to face a sentence of anywhere from 25 to 90 years. While Richard's conviction brought a measure of resolution, the search for the second individual involved in the senseless killing of Michael Harrigan continued.
