On the evening of March 27, 2021, a 30-year-old Black / African American man named Alton Akeem Veal Jr. was fatally shot in Hartford, Connecticut. Known affectionately to friends and family as 'Lil Al', he was a lifelong resident of the city. The incident occurred at approximately 7:30 p.m. on Enfield Street, where police responded to a call of multiple gunshots being fired. Upon their arrival, officers discovered Veal suffering from several gunshot wounds.
He was quickly transported to Saint Francis Hospital, but tragically, he was pronounced dead shortly after.
Veal was a devoted family man, leaving behind his wife, Nikita Santos Veal, and their seven children. His family remembered him for his infectious smile and his passion for the Seattle Seahawks. The loss was especially profound for his young children, including twin daughters who were only about a month old at the time of his death and a 4-year-old son who continued to look for his father daily.
The investigation into the shooting was handled by the Hartford Police Major Crimes and Crime Scene Divisions. Several months later, in October 2021, a breakthrough in the case led to an arrest. Authorities charged 41-year-old Ceshaun Outlaw in connection with Veal's murder. According to reports, surveillance footage from the scene captured a physical altercation where Veal was seen punching another man just moments before Outlaw allegedly shot him multiple times. While the exact motive for the confrontation has not been made clear, Outlaw was taken into custody. He has disputed the charges brought against him.
