Zayon Collier, 25, was found dead from multiple gunshot wounds inside an apartment at 69 Blue Hills Avenue in Hartford on August 4, 2021. The first police report of gunfire came just after midnight that day on Blue Hills Avenue; officers initially found no evidence and left. About 12 hours later, a second call reported gunfire damage inside the building, and a search of the common stairwell and apartments led to the discovery of Collier’s body around 12:45 p.m.

Hartford Police Major Crimes and Crime Scene divisions handled the investigation. Two Hartford men were identified as suspects: 22-year-old Mark Outlaw and 27-year-old George Rodriguez. A witness reported seeing a black BMW park in front of the building, two men exit (one carrying a rifle) and enter the side of the building. Traffic cameras and a traffic stop the day after the shooting helped connect the BMW to Outlaw, who was later located and arrested on October 13, 2021. Rodriguez was found and taken into custody in Texas a week later.

Rodriguez later pleaded in the case and was convicted of first-degree manslaughter with a firearm and sentenced to 20 years in prison. Outlaw was charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder and remained a defendant in the Collier killing. If anyone knew Zayon, his movements that morning, or saw the black BMW near 69 Blue Hills Avenue, please share what was seen.