On a spring evening in Hartford, Connecticut, the life of Rashad Chuck Collier, a 27-year-old Black / African American male, was cut short by gunfire. On May 16, 2015, at approximately 8:30 p.m., police responded to the intersection of George and South Streets, where they found Collier lying on the sidewalk with gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The initial hours of the investigation were marked by some confusion, as police at first misidentified the victim as a woman before correcting the information the following day.
Collier's death was one of two homicides to occur in Hartford within a 24-hour period, though law enforcement stated the two incidents were likely unrelated. Investigators believed the shooting that claimed Collier's life was not a random act of violence, but rather a targeted attack. In the wake of the shooting, those who knew and loved Rashad Collier gathered for vigils to remember him and to call for an end to the violence plaguing their community. The pain of his loss was particularly acute for his family, as his two children were reportedly nearby when the shooting occurred.
Despite the ongoing investigation by the Hartford Police Department, no suspects have been publicly identified in the shooting death of Rashad Chuck Collier. To date, no arrests have been made in connection with the case. The calls for justice from his family and community continue as they await answers in the unsolved homicide.
