Willie "Chill" Nance, a 26-year-old Black male, was fatally shot in Bridgeport, Connecticut on the night of May 24, 2018. The incident that led to his death began to unfold around 12:30 a.m. at the intersection of Asylum and Plymouth streets. Nance had reportedly gone to the area to speak with individuals who had allegedly shot his cousin the previous day.
According to the then-police chief, Nance's intention was to talk to the individuals involved in the prior incident.
However, the confrontation escalated into a shootout. During the exchange of gunfire, both Nance and another man were struck by bullets. Friends in private vehicles transported both wounded men to local hospitals. Nance was taken to St. Vincent's Medical Center, while the other man was transported to Bridgeport Hospital. Despite undergoing hours of surgery, Nance succumbed to a gunshot wound to the torso.
In the wake of the shooting, the Bridgeport Police Department launched an investigation. This led to the arrest of 30-year-old Shardel Ragin of Asylum Street in July 2018. Ragin was taken into custody by the city's Fugitive Task Force and faced multiple charges, including first-degree manslaughter, carrying a pistol without a permit, illegal discharge of a firearm, use of a firearm for a felony, and criminal possession of a firearm. His bond was set at $350,000. It was later reported that at the time of Nance's death, Ragin was already awaiting trial on charges related to another homicide.
