On the night of November 6, 2020, a street in New Haven was shattered by the sound of gunfire, leading to the tragic death of 33-year-old Allen Leeshawn Freeman, a male from Middletown. The incident unfolded at approximately 10:40 p.m. outside a residence on Bassett Street, situated between Shelton Avenue and Goodyear Street. New Haven police and firefighters were dispatched to the scene following a ShotSpotter alert and several 911 calls reporting that a person had been shot.
Upon their
arrival, first responders found Freeman with life-threatening injuries. Emergency personnel from the New Haven Fire Department and American Medical Response immediately administered medical aid at the scene before rushing him to a nearby hospital. Despite their efforts, Freeman succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead. The initial investigation into his death was quickly classified as a homicide, prompting an extensive search for those responsible.
For more than two years, the case remained a focal point for investigators. A significant breakthrough came in June 2023 when authorities announced the arrest of a suspect. Chamar Kelley, who was 21 at the time of the announcement, was identified as the individual responsible for Freeman's death. At the time of his identification as a suspect, Kelley was already in custody in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, on unrelated criminal charges.
The New Haven Police Department initiated extradition proceedings to bring Kelley back to Connecticut to face justice. He was charged with murder, first-degree robbery, and carrying a pistol without a permit in connection with Freeman's death. A judge set his bail at $1 million. It was later revealed that at the time of the shooting, Kelley was on probation and wearing an ankle monitor. The arrest brought a measure of closure to Freeman's family, who had long awaited answers in the violent loss of their loved one.
