Angel Martinez : “U.S. Marshals Capture Hartford Men for Murder”

Accident – Death – Obituary News : : 1. U.S. Marshals Hartford PD capture
2. Murder charges arrests Hartford PD

The U.S. Marshal Service and Hartford Police Department arrested two men on murder charges in separate incidents, including the fatal shooting of two high school students. Brian Jones, 28, of Hartford, was arrested for murder and firearm possession in connection with an August 2023 shooting near Weaver High School. Angel Martinez, 22, was found dead from gunshot wounds. James Chaney, 26, of Plainville, was arrested for the May 4 shooting of two high school students. Lavante Brown, 19, and Aydin Davis, 16, were pronounced dead at Hartford Hospital. Both suspects were held on bond pending further investigation.

In a recent development that has rocked the Hartford community, the U.S. Marshal Service and Hartford Police Department joined forces on Wednesday to apprehend two individuals wanted in connection with separate murder cases, including the tragic shooting of two high school students.

**Arrest of Brian Jones: A Shocking Incident**

One of the arrested individuals, Brian Jones, 28, hailing from Hartford, was taken into custody on charges of murder and criminal possession of a firearm related to a fatal shooting that took place in August 2023. The arrest was carried out at a residence on Charlotte Street in Hartford by the U.S. Marshals Violent Fugitive Task Force working in collaboration with the police department’s Violent Crimes Unit.

Jones stands accused of being involved in a shooting incident near Weaver High School on August 14, 2023. The situation unfolded when law enforcement officers responded to a ShotSpotter notification in the vicinity of Granby Street and Tower Avenue just after 7 p.m. Upon arrival, they discovered 22-year-old Angel Martinez of Hartford, the victim, on Lyme Street with fatal gunshot wounds. Despite efforts by medics, Martinez was pronounced dead at the scene.

**Investigation and Arrest of James Chaney in Plainville**

In a separate but equally distressing occurrence, James Chaney, 26, from Plainville, was arrested on Spring Street in Plainville by the U.S. Marshals Service in conjunction with the Hartford and Plainville Police Departments. Chaney was identified as the suspect in the shooting incident that resulted in the deaths of two high school students on May 4 in the 90 block of Hendricxsen Avenue in Hartford.

Following multiple 911 calls reporting shots fired, officers rushed to Hendricxsen Avenue around 10:33 p.m. on that fateful day. Upon arrival, they discovered two young males in the building’s stairwell with fatal gunshot wounds. The victims were later identified as Lavante Brown, 19, and Aydin Davis, 16, both students of local high schools.

**Impact on the Hartford Community**

The tragic loss of these young lives has sent shockwaves through the Hartford community, prompting Hartford Superintendent of Schools Leslie Torres-Rodriguez to release a statement informing the school community of the heartbreaking news. Both Brown and Davis were active members of the local educational institutions, with Brown attending Weaver High School and Davis enrolled at University High School of Science and Engineering (UHSSE).

The Hartford Police Major Crimes and Crime Scene Divisions diligently pursued the investigation, ultimately leading to the identification of Chaney as a suspect in the case. Subsequently, an arrest warrant was issued, charging Chaney with murder and first-degree reckless endangerment. Upon his apprehension in Plainville, Chaney was transported to the Hartford Police Department’s Detention Division for processing and is currently held on a $1 million court-set bond.

As the community grapples with the aftermath of these senseless acts of violence, the collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies have brought some semblance of justice to the affected families. The healing process may be arduous, but with the perpetrators in custody, there is hope for closure and a step towards rebuilding trust and safety in the Hartford neighbourhoods.