On a December afternoon in 2016, the life of 22-year-old Dontray D. Hammond, a Black / African American male, was tragically cut short on a basketball court in New Haven, Connecticut. Emergency responders were called to the courts behind 24 Victory Drive for a report of a person in cardiac arrest. Upon their arrival at approximately 2:41 p.m. on December 5th, they discovered Hammond with a fatal gunshot wound to his head.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Hammond had moved to New Haven four years prior with his mother in an effort to leave behind a troubled past. Known to his friends as "Millie Tray," he was described by his girlfriend as a funny and lovable person who always put her first. The quiet residential area near West Rock Ridge State Park was disturbed by the violence of that day, leaving a community in shock. Investigators immediately began working the case, interviewing witnesses in the area. However, in the initial aftermath, no description of any potential suspect or suspects was forthcoming.
The investigation into Dontray Hammond's death was classified as a homicide. For a year, the case remained without a public resolution, leaving family and friends to grapple with the unanswered questions surrounding his death. Then, in December of 2017, the New Haven Police Department announced a significant development in the case. An arrest had been made in connection with the fatal shooting. While authorities confirmed that a suspect was in custody and had been charged, the identity of the individual was not publicly disclosed. Details regarding a possible motive for the shooting also remained under wraps, leaving the full story of what transpired on that basketball court largely untold.
