In the early hours of July 3, 2019, the life of 24-year-old Darrell Boston Stokes-Young, a Black/African American male, was tragically cut short. At approximately 1:30 a.m., the sound of multiple gunshots pierced the quiet of a neighborhood in New Haven, Connecticut. Inside a residence located in the 600 block of Elm Street, Stokes-Young was shot. Emergency services were dispatched to the scene, and he was quickly transported to Yale-New Haven Hospital in a bid to save his life.
Despite the efforts of medical personnel, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.
The news of his death sent ripples of grief through his community. Friends and family gathered outside the Elm Street home, lighting vigil candles and mourning the sudden loss of a young life. Many expressed their shock and confusion, stating they had no idea why he would be targeted. The New Haven Police Department promptly launched a homicide investigation into the shooting, which marked the city's fifth homicide of the year. Investigators canvassed the area and appealed to the public for any information that might lead to the apprehension of those responsible.
Darrell, known affectionately as "Baby D" or "Boston," was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on April 24, 1995. He later moved to New Haven and graduated from Wilber Cross High School in 2015, where he was a standout basketball player. His talent on the court earned him a full scholarship to Suny Sullivan Community College in New York. At the time of his death, he was employed at both Walmart and Yale New Haven Hospital. He was a father to a young son, and his family remembered him as a witty and humorous person who loved fashion and enjoyed making people laugh. In the wake of his death, police continued their investigation, but no immediate arrests were made, and no suspects were publicly identified. The case remains a painful and unresolved chapter for his loved ones and the community.
