Police have charged two men, Jamal Hamilton and Kevan Bennett, with the June shootings at Trumbull Gardens that resulted in nine victims–one homicide and eight injured.
From public safety spokesman Kevin Coughlin:
“For months, police officers and others have worked tirelessly to solve this heinous crime. Now we’re taking another step forward,” said Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch.On August 28, 2015, Bridgeport police detectives obtained arrest warrants for two men who were alleged shooters in the June 11, 2015, shooting of 9 people in the Trumbull Gardens Housing Project.
One warrant was issued for Jamal “Moo Moo” Hamilton (DOB: 11/9/1990). And, the other warrant was issued for Kevan “Web” Bennett (DOB: 2/21/1991).
For mug shots of Jamal Hamilton and Kevan Bennett, click here: bit.ly/1hSz3vC.
The suspects are being held on a $1,000,000 bond.
“I want to thank all of the officers involved for their great work,” said Police Chief Joseph Gaudett Jr. “I know there are those in the community who have been pushing for us to find justice in this case, but rest assured our officers have been putting in the time day-in-and-day-out since this tragic incident occurred. I’m proud of our department, and hope that kids and families across our city can sleep a little easier tonight.”
Both suspects are currently incarcerated on unrelated charges.
Today, both suspects will be brought to court and charged with Murder, eight counts of Assault in the First Degree, and weapons charges.
Since the June 11, 2015 shooting, police officers worked tirelessly with the Bridgeport Police Department’s Gang Unit to gather evidence to make arrests in this case.
The Bridgeport Police Department also received support from the State’s Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and the FBI Safe Streets Task Force.
Following the June incident, the Bridgeport Police Department added walking patrols to the housing project and opened a police substation.
The neighborhood also saw the installation of cameras installed by the Bridgeport Housing Authority, which received financial support from Mayor Finch and the City of Bridgeport.
The evidence in this case indicates that both men, along with other unnamed suspects, ambushed a group of people who had congregated in a parking lot of the Trumbull Gardens Housing Project.
The suspects approached the area by car and parked on Sunshine Circle, an adjacent street.
They entered the housing project, split up, and simultaneously attacked from several positions.
They sprayed the crowd with gunfire, striking 8 of the 9 victims.
As the suspects fled they continued to fire back at the parking lot and in doing so struck an elderly woman who was in her shower on the second floor of her home.
I’m sure these two fine young men were surprised to have the U.S. marshals break down the door to escort them to breakfast.
If I read the earlier report correctly, they were incarcerated on other charges when arrested.
In that case they’d better get used to the food.
Last night was another banner night for violent crime in Bridgeport. Three shootings, one stabbing, including a drive-by at Trumbull Gardens.
Wicca–are you saying Ganim’s fake and illegal police substation is a complete flop? Did Ganim spend a lot of money with little or no research to accomplish nothing???
None of it will be addressed by the Finch administration. His attitude is “Those people only shoot each other.”
Mr. Mayor, a wake-up call: ALL LIVES MATTER, not just yours.
The Chief of police would like to thank Andy Fardy and Bob Walsh for their help in this investigation. These two can now rest assured the PD did not actually sweep this under the rug as they constantly moaned about. How long before Steve Auerbach praises Bill Finch for personally solving this crime?
Well, we are hearing from this little girl who should be in school and not on the blog. Listen sweetie, you should be in school and not acting like an imbecile. I understand you have no friends and don’t want to be picked on if you use your real name. Remember, its important not to miss a day in kindergarten.
You are welcome, Chief. I guess I was wrong. They didn’t sweep anything under the rug, it just took them a month to look at the lock up.
Maybe Phantom can explain why he was on the streets to do the shooting and dealing if he had probation violation.
He violated probation and wax allowed to remain free while going on a month long crime spree
Ain’t that right Phantom
Good job, but let’s hope they have the right people and they get the others who were involved.
Thank you Joe Ganim for opening your Police substation at Trumbull Gardens, you put both Mayor Finch and Chief Fife’s feet to the fire by doing so.
Keep up the good work, Mayor Ganim!
Jim Fox,
Great comment. So pathetic. Not a good day for Joe Ganim. Not a good day at all. A simple thank you to the Police Dept. will suffice. Complimenting an illegal substation and a Mayor convicted of 16 felony charges while discounting the work of our fine Police Dept. even though one fat cat Union leader is supporting your man and getting fat on Testa’s food. Sad indeed. You represent the typical Ganim supporter.
Good job, Joe Ganim! Thanks for shaming Bill Finch and Joe Gaudett into action. Were it not for a concerned citizen, neither of them would have done anything.
Thank You to the Bridgeport Police Department.
I would like to echo Andy Fardy as opposed to the ignorant comments by Bridgeport Kid that never fail to excite the ignorant and misinformed. How dare you think Mayor Finch does not care about the lives of all Bridgeporters. Black lives matter and so does everyone else’s. Get off your racist crap already, you ignorant drunk!
Andy Fardy, I too would like to thank Bridgeport’s Finest for their amazing job in capturing these individuals who have no respect for human life. I am certain the residents of Trumbull Gardens are very grateful and I can not imagine Joe showing up for this photo opportunity.
Congratulations to the Bridgeport Police Department for a job well done. Mario Testa will not be giving Mr. Paris free food and drinks tonight because, well you know. He was hoping there would be no success until after the election.
I know the Police Department has been working tirelessly to bring these individuals to justice. Thank you to those who were brave enough to help with the investigation.
Hey Steve,
Get over your ignorance already. Bill Finch, Joseph Gaudett and the rest of the “hee haw” gang taking up space at Morton Government Center only care about developers and the fat contributions they make to the re-election campaign’s coffers.
The people living in public housing are overwhelmingly black. The reason they are living there has more to do with socioeconomic oppression and income inequality and the dysfunctional culture of despair that is endemic to life on the dole. Bill Finch only sees dark skin, “those people” who should learn how to pay their taxes. The ones who can afford a vehicle sometimes get behind. In Finch’s analysis they ought to be punished for owing as little as a hundred bucks. So the Finch administration seizes their cars, making it difficult for them to get to and from work, take their children to school, go to the grocery store, keep medical appointments. Why bother to let them make payment arrangements to pay off the tax debt? “Those people don’t want to pay taxes,” I can hear Tax Bill say, so we’ll just screw their lives up instead.
Racism is a fact of life in Bridgeport, Steven. If you react angrily at my insistence on the subject, that’s a clear indication you know I’m right. It may not be a pretty subject but it is a fact of life, a third of Bridgeport’s population suffers discrimination because they are black and poor. Some of this discrimination emanates from the policies of the mayor’s office.
By the way, I am not a drunk, sir. I have a heart condition. Alcohol reacts badly with the medications I have been prescribed. So I drink water. Get your facts straight and stop being an asshole. If you don’t like what I say, I’m chill with that. You are not required to agree with me, nor am I required to agree with you. You need to stop taking everyone’s comments personally, stop baiting others, stop antagonizing and annoying everyone else. So you support Bill Finch because of the “cranes in the air and shovels in the ground.” I’m happy for you. Stop inflicting your opinions on everyone else. Sarcasm is an expression of anger. Making sport of others is not funny. If you cannot take it then don’t dish it out. Try having a little dignity for a change. It might suit you.
Bridgeport Kid, sorry for your heart condition, must be a drag hanging at the bars and drinking water. I do not drink much myself though I heard a couple of glasses of wine is good for you. I figured I would start responding to your posts with the same vitriolic comments as you do to mine, or from the Ron Mackey book–Crickets.
Your sarcasm is as annoying as your rudeness, as I have been told by many. You monopolize the blog with negative and disrespectful comments about the mayor and all his administration.
Now get off your knees for once and stop talking about my oversized organ. I am embarrassed at the hugeness and sometimes I wonder if perhaps that is the only way to shut you up. I would love to rub your face in the bovine fecal matter you love talking about. I love your very visual comments and realize hey, if it doesn’t bother Lennie and it doesn’t bother anyone else, hey I can deal and chill with it. Can you imagine anyone using your choice words on this blog to describe Mary-Jane Foster G-d Forbid or even Joseph Ganim? I find your disrespect beyond loathsome. You are like puss. You are dark and miserable. I love that you respond to my post and know you appreciate my response because we both believe in freedom of speech and we both share this love/hate relationship. I am getting excited already. Do you spit or swallow? Either way, a bag over your head and we are good to go!
You seem to draw more negative reactions here than anyone else. If others are offended by my observations they are welcome to take it up with me, vis-à-vis.
Your support of a lame duck is based on what, his taste in clothing? Show us some facts and figures. Talk is cheap.
The general consensus is this: you are a jackass, braying in the wind from both ends.
Who said anything about your tool?
By the way: I don’t hang around in bars drinking water. Only time I go to taverns is to play open-mic nights. I have talent, sir. You have none.
Bridgeport Kid, stop talking about my tool already. I heard you have talent and I am certain you are awesome at open mike night. I have very little talent. Certainly nothing compared to yours. I have heard you are a great guitarist. As you know, I was a record promoter in the late ’70s to the mid ’80s. My only talent working with new artists from every major record label was I could tell after a few beats if a record would chart on Billboard, RecordWord and Cashbox. Not bad and I was doing that simultaneously while working at a white collar manufacturing facility in Stamford as a Senior Planner/Master scheduler. Just thought I’d share. Btw one of my best friends is also an awesome guitarist. Paul Sabu. His dad was Sabu the elephant boy in those old movies. Just thought I’d share. See Bridgeport Kid, we have music in common! Record promoting was my bliss until I became involved with All Things Bridgeport, politics and Home Depot.
Bridgeport Kid, are you having hallucinations? You are responding to Donald Day, though he did not make a comment.
I hope this is not one of those bogus political false arrests!
False arrest is a common law tort, where a plaintiff alleges he or she was held in custody without probable cause, or without an order issued by a court of competent jurisdiction. Although it is possible to sue law enforcement officials for false arrest.
Jim, I can tell you this from experience, it is not easy to get the prosecutor or the judge to sign warrants.
The U.S. Marshals Service was involved in this apprehension. They have expertise in securing arrest warrants.
This is interesting. “The neighborhood also saw the installation of cameras installed by the Bridgeport Housing Authority, which received financial support from Mayor Finch and the City of Bridgeport” but just a few days ago, we got this from the housing authority director. “If I’m not mistaken, the poles (where the cameras will be mounted) are up,” he said. “The city put up money for the poles.” Now someone is obviously not telling the truth here, last Thursday the director “THOUGHT” the poles were up, and today Finch is saying he has installed cameras. Which is it?
The article on Aug 27th.
www .ctpost.com/news/article/As-candidates-battle-Trumbull-Gardens-waits-and-6470142.php
If oncological scientists formulated a cure for cancer, Bill Finch would find a way to take credit for it. Finch is so dumb he probably doesn’t know what makes water boil.
Would that be the equivalent of Joe Ganim taking credit for saving the city from bankruptcy and holding the line on taxes?
OK Kid, enlighten us. Without using Google, what does make water boil? You accuse Finch of corruption and being stupid. Yet, he is not and never has been in jail. At the very least, that would make him smarter than Ganim.
Finch just hasn’t been caught. Maybe he hasn’t done anything illegal but so what? He has done more than his share of immoral and unethical things to advance his position, line the pockets of campaign “donors” and set himself up for retirement on Easy Street.
And how is that different from Ganim? In past posts you use the accusation ‘corruption.’ Are you retracting that accusation? Will you be issuing an apology?
I’m not supporting Ganim. Neither he nor Finch is a good choice for chief executive. Out of a general election field of eight candidates, the pickings are rather slim. A vote for either Ganim or Finch is a vote for the status quo, the corrupt political machine Chris Caruso nearly toppled. He had a very strong showing his last campaign; that’s why the DTC recruited Bill Finch for the job. He didn’t want it at first. Now he’s acting like Victor Von Frankenstein’s unholy creation. This is the twenty-first century so he will be voted out of office, not hounded to destruction by angry villagers bearing pitchforks and flaming torches.
Historically the Democratic primary has decided the mayoral race. This year it will be different. There are too many names on the general ballot. The general election is not going to be predictable. Already the Secretary of the State is going to send in monitors.
This is confusing. Whom do you support? Or is it just easier to criticize all? You have to want someone from the choices to win.
September 16 will decide the election.
Just a simple THANK YOU to the Bridgeport Police Department and the other law enforcement agencies.
Now back to the personal attacks.
Wait a minute. All the Ganim guys and the non-Ganim guy BPT Kid admonished Finch for not doing enough to catch these guys a few stories ago. Now, they are caught and the spin has become ‘Finch is not personally responsible for their apprehension.’ You have to pick one or the other. It was not a well thought out strategy to make apprehending these guys a campaign issue. You knew they would be caught sooner or later. If not catching them is a demerit, catching them is a credit. As long as you catch them before Election Day. Since they were already in jail, you could hypothesize they were waiting to press charges to have a ‘big splash’ just before the election and you guys fell into the trap. Yah, big dummies.
They also criticize Finch for trying to take over the BOE and blame him for poor school performance even though his attempt to take over and responsibility for the BOE was defeated. I believe the luckiest thing that even happened to Finch was his defeat in the BOE takeover. Why anyone would want to bite into that crap sandwich is beyond me. Now that his takeover was defeated, he can claim he tried to change education in BPT but the voters would not let him. Finch gives the BOE the money he can and that is all he can do.
Finch had one plan, to take over the school board. That wasn’t going to repair or remedy any of the problems plaguing the school system. It was a power grab. A majority of voters saw it for what it was and voted it down.
A hallmark of Bill Finch’s management style is to use his power to intimidate city employees into doing his bidding, to toe his line. If he had succeeded in taking over the school board Finch would have appointed city employees and/or relatives of city employees. That’s how he has maintained control, through intimidation and threatening with possible demotion or termination. Plenty of anecdotes have leaked out of the Morton Government Center about that, and everyone tells the same story: “Do this or else.”
We live in a democratic society, not a dictatorship. Dedicated career civil servants will do their jobs and follow orders. Why engage in hostile, manipulative behavior?
How does what you describe differ from what the BOE is now? Imagine how much less vindictive the BOE will be if Maria ‘forgive and forget’ Pereira wins. I am sure Maria is a concerned citizen. She doesn’t have a financial axe to grind. Is your problem with the BOE being a ‘friends and family’ network or just the mayor’s network? You know that is why Vallas had to go. He displaced too many friends and family. Look at who left when Vallas came and returned when Vallas left. You are a fan of circumstantial evidence. How does this look? The teachers union backs several board members. They hire Fran. Fran hires a number of directors Vallas fired. Fran settles the teachers’ contract with a hefty raise. Fran’s contract is extended. Test scores are not higher. Graduation rates are not better. The BOE is $5-$7-$12 million OVER budget. No one is really sure since Vallas’ accountant quit. Kid, don’t be naive. The fiefdom of the BOE is larger than that of the city. At least budget wise. Plus, the BOE’s budget is protected. Who in their right mind would cut the education budget? Look at the black eye Finch got for replacing $5 million of a $250 million budget with services. Services that could have gone to a friend or family.