Tashawn Eddie Brown, an 18-year-old Black male, had a promising future ahead of him. Having overcome earlier troubles, he had graduated from high school with plans to become an electrician. Described by his mother as a provider for his family, a confidant, and wise beyond his years, he was a protective older brother to his younger siblings. He was known for his "magnificent" smile and laugh and was considered an old soul by his mother, with whom he shared a close bond.
On the evening of
May 19, 2021, Tashawn's life was tragically cut short on Ella T. Grasso Boulevard near Edgewood Park in New Haven, Connecticut. Earlier that day, family and friends had gathered at the park to mourn the recent loss of a cousin. A dispute broke out during the gathering, and though it was thought to have subsided, it ultimately led to fatal gunfire. Tashawn was shot and killed in front of his younger siblings, who were 11, 10, and 8 years old at the time. When police officers arrived at the scene, they found Tashawn with a single gunshot wound. He was transported to Yale-New Haven Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
For years, his family grieved and awaited justice. The investigation into his death was ongoing. In a significant development nearly three years later, two members of a New Haven gang known as "Exit 8" were implicated in his murder. In April 2024, Tyjon "TJ" Preston and Antawn "Bandz" Hill both pleaded guilty to conspiring to murder Tashawn Brown. Preston, who was 21 at the time of his plea, admitted to his role in the conspiracy as part of a larger plea agreement that also involved another murder. Hill, also 21, had pleaded guilty a week prior to charges that included conspiring to kill Tashawn. The guilty pleas brought a measure of resolution to a case that had left a family and community mourning the loss of a young life full of potential.
