A promising young Black / African American male basketball player, 14-year-old Tyshaun Hargrove, was fatally shot on the night of August 25, 2021, in New Haven, Connecticut. The incident occurred at approximately 10:51 p.m. in the parking lot of an apartment complex on Chatham Street, in the Fair Haven neighborhood. Police responded to multiple 911 calls reporting a person had been shot and found the teenager with gunshot wounds.
Hargrove was rushed to Yale New Haven Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. At the time of his death, Hargrove was just weeks away from his 15th birthday and was an incoming freshman at James Hillhouse High School. He was also the father of a one-year-old child.
Hargrove was known as a talented point guard for the AAU Elm City Elite team and had dreams of pursuing a career in basketball. His death was the 19th homicide in New Haven that year, causing distress among city officials and community members. In the immediate aftermath, police described the shooting as an "isolated incident" and believed Hargrove was targeted, though a specific motive was not immediately clear. The investigation was in its early stages, with detectives canvassing the area and reviewing surveillance footage. Authorities stated that Hargrove did not live in the apartment complex where the shooting took place, and there was no initial indication that residents of the complex were involved.
As of late 2025, there have been no public announcements regarding any arrests made or suspects identified in the killing of Tyshaun Hargrove. The case has been marked by subsequent violence, suggesting that the conflict that led to his death may be ongoing. In September 2024, a memorial for Hargrove was the scene of another shooting, which injured several people. Following this event, the New Haven Police Chief stated, "We definitely think there's a beef going back and forth related to that young man's death." This indicates that Hargrove's murder remains an open wound in the community, with related violence continuing long after his death. The New Haven Police Department has continued to appeal to the public for any information that might lead to a breakthrough in the case.
