On the evening of October 8, 2015, Antoine Heath, a 29-year-old Black / African American man from West Haven, Connecticut, was shot and killed while sitting in his parked car on Chapel Street in New Haven. The incident occurred around 7:40 p.m. near Edgewood Park. Emergency services arrived to find Heath with a gunshot wound to his chest and transported him to Yale-New Haven Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after 8:00 p.m.
Police quickly determined that the shooting was not
a random act of violence, stating that they were confident Heath was specifically targeted. Investigators shut down a section of Chapel Street for several hours to comb for evidence and interview witnesses. From these initial inquiries, a vague description of a suspect emerged: a Black individual, either male or female, with shoulder-length braids or dreadlocks, who was seen fleeing the scene and entering Edgewood Park. There were also reports of a dark-colored car speeding away from the area immediately following the shooting. The perpetrator was considered armed and dangerous and remained at large.
In the days following his death, a picture of Antoine Heath, known affectionately as "Champ," came into focus. He was remembered by family and friends as a devoted family man, a loving husband to his wife, Shawnte, and a dedicated father to his two young children. Friends and family described him as a hardworking and ambitious man who was deeply spiritual and had recently become more involved with his church, Varick Memorial AME Zion Church, where he was scheduled to be baptized just days after his murder. He had recently started a new construction job and had previously worked as a night-shift supervisor at the Columbus House homeless shelter for five years.
The community mourned the loss of Heath, holding a candlelight vigil on Chapel Street where he was killed. Despite the ongoing investigation and pleas from the police for public assistance, no arrests have been made in the case. The investigation into the targeted killing of Antoine Heath remains open, leaving his family and community still waiting for answers and justice for a man who was a champion for his loved ones.
