On the evening of May 18, 2021, a fatal encounter unfolded in Hartford, Connecticut, that would claim the life of 43-year-old Lavar Jackson, a Black male from West Hartford. The incident began as a dispute near the Mila Supermarket on Albany Avenue involving Jackson, Jorge Rodriguez-Dones, and another individual. The argument quickly escalated into a physical confrontation outside the store.
During the altercation, the third man punched Jackson, and Rodriguez-Dones drew a firearm, pointing it at Jackson.
Following this initial confrontation, Jackson followed Rodriguez-Dones into the supermarket. Inside the store, surveillance footage captured Jackson drawing his own weapon, leading to an exchange of gunfire between the two men. In the ensuing chaos, Jackson was struck by the gunfire. He managed to exit the store before collapsing on the street from multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to St. Francis Hospital, initially in critical condition, but he later succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation into the shooting led Hartford police to identify 25-year-old Jorge Rodriguez-Dones as the suspect. He was taken into custody and initially charged with first-degree manslaughter with a firearm and carrying a pistol without a permit. His bond was set at $1.25 million. The case, however, took a significant turn due to a strong claim of self-defense raised by Rodriguez-Dones's lawyer.
In 2023, the legal proceedings concluded with a plea agreement. Rodriguez-Dones pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of carrying a pistol without a permit for the incident involving Jackson. This resulted in a three-year prison sentence, which was set to run concurrently with a five-year term for a separate shooting incident in Bloomfield. The resolution of the case took into account the self-defense claim, which influenced the reduced charges and the final sentencing.
