On the night of September 20, 2018, a 16-year-old Black male named Marcus Hall was shot multiple times in Stamford, Connecticut. The incident occurred in the area of 62 Pequot Lane at the Southwood Square apartment complex on the city's West Side. Hall, a student at Westhill High School, was found on the ground with gunshot wounds, including one to the head. Emergency services transported him to Stamford Hospital where he remained in critical condition for two days.
His family made the decision to take him off life support, and he passed away on September 22, 2018. The death of the aspiring skateboarder, who was described as well-loved by his peers and teachers, deeply affected the community.
The investigation into the homicide was a long-term effort involving the Stamford Police Department and the Stamford State's Attorney's Office. Investigators utilized surveillance footage from various locations, witness statements, and anonymous tips to piece together the events of that night. Police determined that Hall was not specifically targeted. Instead, the suspects had allegedly gone to the Southwood Square complex with the intent to shoot at people due to an ongoing street feud.
In May 2021, authorities made arrests in connection with the nearly three-year-old case. On May 6, 2021, police arrested 21-year-old Isaias Delacruz while he was at the Stamford courthouse for an unrelated matter. He was charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and carrying a pistol without a permit. Shortly after, a second suspect, 21-year-old John Montero-Delossantos, was also charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder. According to court documents, the two men had told people they were going to Southwood Square to "shoot it up" on the night of the incident. One witness reported that Montero-Delossantos later bragged about the killing and showed off the gun that was allegedly used. The arrests brought a sense of justice to the family of Marcus Hall and the wider Stamford community.
