On the evening of August 18, 2016, Joseph Jiles, a 40-year-old Black / African American male, was found lying on the sidewalk near the intersection of Main Street and Cleveland Avenue in Hartford, Connecticut. Police responded to reports of gunfire in the area at approximately 8:22 p.m. and discovered Jiles suffering from gunshot wounds to his arm and upper chest. He was transported to Hartford Hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
His death was the city's 12th homicide of 2016.
An investigation into the shooting revealed that Jiles had been involved in a physical altercation with another man, identified as 49-year-old Jonathan Willis, in a parking lot at 3155 Main Street shortly before the shooting. Following this initial confrontation, the two men encountered each other again a few minutes later in front of 10 Cleveland Avenue. It was at this location that Willis allegedly shot Jiles.
Following the investigation, an arrest warrant was issued for Jonathan Willis. On March 6, 2017, Willis turned himself in to the Hartford Police. He was subsequently charged with murder, criminal use of a firearm, and criminal possession of a firearm. Willis was held on a $1 million bond.
