On a summer day in Bridgeport, Connecticut, tragedy struck when 44-year-old Reginald May was fatally shot. The incident, which occurred on July 2, 2017, unfolded in front of May's apartment building on Alice Street, where he was shot once in the chest. Despite being rushed to St. Vincent's Medical Center, May succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation into the shooting soon focused on Richard Evans, a co-worker of May's.
Authorities learned that the two men had been involved in a dispute over money while on a work-related trip to Virginia the previous month. The altercation escalated to the point where May punched Evans in the face. Witnesses reported hearing Evans say, "OK, Reggie, I got you," a statement they interpreted as a threat of retaliation.
Following the shooting, Evans became the primary suspect. He was eventually located and taken into custody. A search of his vehicle uncovered a Mini Draco AK-47 style firearm, a bulletproof vest, and a significant quantity of illegal drugs. The gun believed to have been used in the shooting was later discovered at the West Rock Nature Center in Hamden.
Richard Evans, then 43, was charged with murder and carrying a pistol without a permit. After a trial where the jury deliberated for a day and a half, he was found guilty on both counts. Citing the premeditated nature of the crime, the judge sentenced Evans to 60 years in prison for the murder of his co-worker. The Connecticut Supreme Court later upheld the conviction.
