On the afternoon of May 31, 2021, 19-year-old Makhi Buckly was shot and killed in Hartford, Connecticut. Police responded to reports of gunshots near the 100 block of Amherst Street around 3:45 p.m. and found Buckly in a nearby driveway with multiple gunshot wounds; he was taken to Hartford Hospital and pronounced dead.

Investigators described the attack as targeted. Arrest warrant affidavits say the shooting occurred during a gun trade in the backyard of a home and that a 19-year-old, Jaquan Graham, allegedly shot Buckly after saying Buckly acted “iffy” during the transaction. Graham was taken into custody on June 1 and initially charged with weapons offenses, tampering with evidence, and conspiracy; those charges were later upgraded to include murder. Two other 19-year-olds, Omari Barrett and Tyrese Duckworth, were also arrested on weapons and tampering charges related to the case.

Anyone with information about the shooting, the backyard transaction, or the people involved is asked to come forward.