On the morning of July 29, 2021, Hartford police responded after the city’s ShotSpotter recorded gunfire near Greenfield and Enfield streets. Officers initially found evidence of a shooting but no victim; minutes later they were directed to a nearby car crash at Greenfield Street and Oakland Terrace. Inside the vehicle they found 35-year-old Desmond Wray unresponsive with apparent gunshot wounds. He was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead. Wray, known as Buck to friends and family, worked for the City of Hartford, was a chef, and was remembered for his quiet nature and love for his children.

Hartford detectives developed a case that led to arresting Gregory Hopkins in January 2022. Investigators tied a Jeep Cherokee linked to Hopkins’ girlfriend to the scene on surveillance, found Hopkins’ cellphone near a broken fence a witness said the shooter had jumped over, and detected gunshot residue on the steering wheel and gear shift. Hopkins was charged with murder and criminal possession of a firearm and later pleaded to first-degree manslaughter with a firearm; a judge sentenced him to 20 years in prison with 10 years of special parole.

If anyone knew Desmond Wray or has information about what happened that morning, please share what you know.