On the evening of February 9, 2010, the life of 64-year-old Joseph "Ho-Jo" Ferraiolo, a male, came to a violent end in Hamden, Connecticut. The owner of A Touch of Color tattoo parlor on Dixwell Avenue, Ferraiolo was ambushed and shot multiple times outside the rear door of his business at approximately 8:10 p.m. Police were called to the scene after receiving several 911 calls reporting the sound of gunshots. Upon arrival, they discovered Ferraiolo on the ground with two gunshot wounds.
He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries shortly after.
The investigation into Ferraiolo's murder immediately pointed towards a complex and potentially dangerous motive. Authorities quickly began to explore the possibility that his death was linked to a rivalry between motorcycle gangs. This line of inquiry was prompted by Ferraiolo's known affiliation with the Outlaws Motorcycle Club, where he was a member of the Connecticut chapter based in Waterbury. The Hamden Police Department, in collaboration with the Waterbury and Connecticut state police, actively investigated potential connections between the homicide and motorcycle gang activities. Investigators were also on the lookout for a black pickup truck that was believed to be connected to the shooting. At the time, a man working at a neighboring pizza restaurant reported hearing sounds of a struggle outside his back door shortly before the shooting. When he went to investigate, he saw a woman in the back parking lot who called out to someone to see if everything was alright. A man from inside the tattoo parlor reportedly assured her that there were no problems.
Despite the active and multi-agency investigation, Ferraiolo's murder remains unsolved. In the years following his death, the case grew cold, and no suspects have been publicly identified or arrested. Hamden police have described the killing as a "heinous crime" and have periodically appealed to the public for any information that might lead to a breakthrough in the case. Ferraiolo was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served from 1962 to 1965. His funeral drew a large crowd, including members of various motorcycle clubs from as far as Florida, Maine, and Chicago, who came to pay their respects to their fallen "brother." He was remembered by his family as a generous man who was always willing to help others. He left behind several children and grandchildren. The search for who is responsible for his death continues.
