On the evening of May 30, 2011, Andrew Igidi, a 74-year-old male, was fatally shot outside a package store on Albany Avenue in Hartford, Connecticut. Igidi, a native of Nigeria and a father of five, worked as a shuttle bus driver to send money back to his family in Africa. He was described as planning for his retirement to be with his loved ones.
The incident occurred at approximately 10:30 p.m. as Igidi was going to a corner store near his home in the city's North End.
He was struck by three bullets to the chest. Initially, law enforcement believed Igidi was an innocent bystander and a victim of mistaken identity in a drive-by shooting, not the intended target. His death marked the 15th homicide in Hartford for that year. His brother later spoke out, expressing his shock and the family's desire for answers.
The investigation into Andrew Igidi's death led police to 18-year-old Charles Wilson of Hartford. Authorities received a tip on June 3, 2011, that linked Wilson to Igidi's murder and another fatal shooting of a convenience store clerk in Manchester that had occurred on May 22. Hartford police arrested Wilson on June 14 on loitering charges, at which point he confessed to both murders.
While already in custody for the Hartford shooting, Wilson was subsequently charged with felony murder, murder, and criminal attempt/robbery for the Manchester homicide. During his arraignment for Igidi's murder at Hartford Superior Court, he was served with the additional charges related to the Manchester case. A combined bond of $4.25 million was set for the two murders. The collaborative efforts of the Hartford and Manchester police departments were instrumental in his apprehension.
