In the afternoon of May 31, 2021, a young Black/African American man named Makhi Buckly, 19, was shot and killed in Hartford, Connecticut. The incident occurred around 3:45 p.m. in the vicinity of the 100 block of Amherst Street, where police responded to a report of gunshots. Upon arrival, officers found Buckly in a nearby driveway, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
He was quickly transported to Hartford Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The investigation into the shooting suggested that the attack was targeted. It was later revealed that Buckly, a graduate of Achievement First High School who played football for American International College, was the grandson of well-known Hartford anti-violence activist Carl Hardrick. Hardrick has been a prominent figure in the community for decades, working to prevent youth violence.
Authorities identified 19-year-old Jaquan Graham as the primary suspect in Buckly's death. According to arrest warrant affidavits, Graham allegedly shot Buckly during a gun trade that took place in the backyard of a home. Graham reportedly told friends he shot Buckly because the teen was acting "iffy" during the transaction. Following the shooting, Buckly apparently ran to the driveway where he was discovered.
Initially, Graham was taken into custody on June 1 and faced charges including carrying a pistol without a permit, tampering with physical evidence, and conspiracy. In September 2021, the charges against Graham were upgraded to include murder. Two other individuals, Omari Barrett and Tyrese Duckworth, both 19 at the time, were also arrested in connection with the incident. They faced charges including illegal possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle and tampering with physical evidence.
