Police Make Second Arrest in Parade Shootings
by CTNewsjunkie Staff | September 5, 2008 1:40 PM
Posted to General News
Hartford police say they have made a second arrest in connection with the Aug. 9 West Indian Day Parade shooting that led to one death and the wounding of six others, including two young children.
Police said 17-year-old Sylvester Burrell of Bloomfield, pictured at right, was arrested Monday and charged with six counts of accessory to first-degree assault, carrying a pistol without a permit, unlawful discharge of a firearm, and risk of injury to a minor.
Authorities said detectives have probable cause to believe Burrell was at the scene of the shooting with a firearm.
Police said Burrell, who turned 17 on Aug. 29, was taken into custody with a warrant around 7 p.m. after he was spotted in a vehicle at the corner of Tower and Blue Hills.
Burrell is being held on a $2.5 million bond.
Last week police arrested Michael Ledbetter, a 17-year-old youthful offender and gang member, in connection with the shooting. Ledbetter, of Hartford, is on probation and is “known to be a member of the local West Hell street gang,” police said.
No information was provided in today’s news release on a gang affiliation for Burrell, if there is any. Police officials said last week that Ledbetter’s name was released — despite his age — because his prior criminal record exempts him from qualifying for the protections provided in the youth offender statute.
The Aug. 9 incident drew angry responses from community members and clergy who decried the shooters for their willingness to open fire on crowded Main Street near the corner of Cleveland Avenue despite the presence not only of children, but also of numerous police officers on the parade route.
Police said Ledbetter, pictured at right, was taken into custody Aug. 27 near Bowles Park in Hartford’s north end after detectives with the HPD Major Crimes Division obtained an arrest warrant.
Ledbetter is charged with murder, carrying a pistol without a permit, unlawful discharge of a gun, aggravated assault in the first degree, and risk of injury to a minor.
He is being held on $2 million bond, police said.
Ezekiel Roberts, 21, was killed in the shooting and was believed to be the target. He was a distant relative of HPD Chief Daryl Roberts.
After the shooting started, at least one individual reportedly ran away from the incident while blindly firing a handgun behind himself into the crowd. It’s not clear whether Ledbetter or Burrell are the youth described in that report.
Other Aug. 9 victims include:
-Zinia Jackson, 15 months, of Hartford, gunshot wound to lower extremity
-Tyreke Marquis, 7, of Hartford, gunshot wound to the head
-Tafari Jackson, 15, of Bloomfield, gunshot wound lower extremity
-John Gibson, 16, of Windsor, gunshot wound to lower back
-Quarnell Smith, 16, of Hartford, gunshot wound to lower extremity
-Angelique Green, 17, of Hartford, gunshot wound to lower extremity
Anyone with information that may assist authorities in holding accountable those responsible for the shootings is asked to contact Major Crimes Division Supervising Sergeant Rob Davis at 860-757-4256, or Crime Stoppers at 860-722-TIPS.
More on the Aug. 9 shootings:
Aug. 11: Hartford officials say shooting could have been avoided (story & video)
Aug. 12: Hartford rallies against violence (story & video)
Aug. 12: Mayor writes governor, chief justice about failure of bail system
Aug. 15: Kirkley-Bey talks about ending the cycle of violence (video)
Aug. 19: Clergy critical of governor after Hartford shooting (story & video)
Aug. 28: Hartford police ID youth arrested in Aug. 9 parade shootings
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