In the early morning hours of Sunday, November 21, 2021, the life of Jay'Quawne Wilshawn Ward, a 31-year-old Black / African American male from Springfield, Massachusetts, was tragically cut short. At approximately 12:40 a.m., Springfield Police responded to a report of a gunshot victim on Albemarle Street, between the intersections of Wilbraham Road and Westford Circle.
Upon arrival, officers discovered Ward inside a car, suffering from what appeared to be a gunshot wound.
Emergency medical personnel arrived on the scene and administered first aid, but their efforts were ultimately in vain. Jay'Quawne Ward was pronounced deceased at the scene, his death marking another homicide in the city. The Hampden District Attorney's Office later publicly identified Ward as the victim.
The Springfield Police Department's Homicide Unit, in conjunction with the Hampden District Attorney's Office's Murder Unit, immediately launched an investigation into the shooting. At the time, authorities announced that it was an active and ongoing investigation. Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni publicly expressed his sympathies to Mr. Ward's family. As of now, there have been no public announcements regarding any arrests made or the identification of any suspects in connection with the death of Jay'Quawne Wilshawn Ward. The case remains an open investigation.
