William James, a 46-year-old Black/African American man, was fatally shot in Stamford, Connecticut on the evening of Thursday, June 5, 2014. Known to his friends and family as "Buttons," James was in the South End area of the city when the incident occurred. At approximately 8:36 p.m., at the corner of South Pacific Street and Ludlow Street, a male suspect approached James from behind and fired a single shot, striking him in the head.
The area was reportedly busy with activity at the time of the shooting.
Immediately following the shooting, the suspect fled the scene, running east on Ludlow Street. Emergency services were dispatched, and upon arrival, officers discovered James with a gunshot wound. He was transported to Stamford Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased. This tragic event marked the first homicide in the city of Stamford for the year 2014. A memorial consisting of candles and balloons was later created at the scene of the shooting to honor his memory.
The Stamford Police Department's Bureau of Criminal Investigation promptly began a thorough investigation into the homicide. Investigators believed the shooting was not a random act of violence and that the suspect knew and specifically targeted James. Within a week of the incident, the police announced that they were close to making an arrest, stating they were 99 percent certain of the killer's identity.
The investigation led to the arrest of 20-year-old Andre Russell of Ludlow Street. He was charged with first-degree murder and held on a $1 million bond. The motive for the shooting was reported to stem from a dispute over a drug debt, with suggestions that Russell was upset that James had sold narcotics on his "side of the street." At the time of the murder, Russell was on probation for a previous conviction of carrying a pistol without a permit. Russell later pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. The arrest brought a sense of relief to James's family, who felt that knowing the alleged perpetrator was in custody would allow their loved one to rest peacefully.
