On a cold January evening in New Britain, Connecticut, the life of 34-year-old Hispanic male Erick Javier Rivera Jr. was tragically cut short. On January 15, 2019, at approximately 7:34 p.m., a police officer on patrol in the vicinity of North Street heard the sound of several gunshots. The officer discovered Rivera on the ground at the intersection of North and Oak Street, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound.
Emergency services were called, and Rivera was quickly transported to a Hartford area hospital, but he ultimately succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.
The investigation into the city's first homicide in 18 months moved swiftly. Within a day, New Britain police detectives had arrested two teenagers in connection with the fatal shooting. The suspects were identified as 18-year-old Justin Hapgood and a 17-year-old male, Wilfredo Oquendo. Hapgood was charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder, while Oquendo faced a charge of accessory to murder. Both were held on a $2 million bond. The motive behind the shooting appeared to stem from a belief by Oquendo that Rivera had intended to lure him into a robbery. Oquendo shared this suspicion with Hapgood, who reportedly became enraged, leading to the deadly confrontation.
In the years following the incident, the legal process unfolded. Both Justin Hapgood and Wilfredo Oquendo eventually accepted plea bargains. Hapgood pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of first-degree manslaughter with a firearm. During his sentencing in July 2023, the court heard a statement from Rivera's mother expressing her profound loss. Hapgood, who had lost his right arm in a previous home invasion, had the handgun "racked" for him by Oquendo to prepare it for firing. He was sentenced to 24 years in prison. Oquendo also pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter with a firearm and was awaiting sentencing for his role in the killing.
