On a late afternoon in Hartford, Connecticut, the life of Trelique Jarule Ward, a 22-year-old Black/African American male, was irrevocably altered. The events of June 9, 2021, unfolded on Kent Street around 5:30 p.m. when the Hartford Police Department was alerted to gunfire by a ShotSpotter activation. Arriving at the scene, officers discovered evidence of a shooting, but no victims were present.
Shortly after the police arrived on Kent Street, two men with gunshot wounds appeared at a
local hospital. One of these men was Trelique Ward, who had sustained life-threatening injuries. He was admitted in critical condition and, despite medical efforts, succumbed to his injuries the following day, June 10, 2021. The other man, 35-year-old Aubrey Perry, was also treated for gunshot wounds but was in stable condition.
Investigators pieced together the events leading to the shooting, determining that it stemmed from a drug deal that escalated into a violent exchange of gunfire between Ward and Perry. The entire tragic incident was reportedly captured on a private surveillance camera, providing crucial evidence for the investigation. This evidence showed the confrontation that led to both men being shot.
Following his recovery and release from the hospital, Aubrey Perry was taken into police custody. He was subsequently charged with murder and criminal possession of a firearm in connection with the death of Trelique Ward. A bond was set at $1.2 million. Ward, a resident of East Hartford and a 2018 graduate of East Hartford High School, was a father to three young children. His family and friends remembered him for his passion for music and his love for animals.
