On the evening of March 23, 2015, in Hartford, Connecticut, 20-year-old Julius Rivera was fatally shot inside an apartment at 17 Benton Street. Officers found Rivera on the floor with multiple gunshot wounds, including one to his pelvic area. He was conscious and alert when first reached but was transported to Hartford Hospital and later pronounced dead. The city recorded his death as its sixth homicide that year.

Witnesses identified 20-year-old Raymond Vega, known as Cito, who lived nearby at 11 Benton Street, as the shooter after a physical altercation between the two. Police described the motive as believed to be gang-related, reporting Vega’s alleged Latin Kings affiliation and Rivera’s reported membership in the 420 gang associated with the apartment address. On August 25, 2015, Vega was charged with Rivera’s murder and held on $1 million bond while already incarcerated on an unrelated matter.

If anyone knew Rivera, Vega, or saw activity on Benton Street that evening, please share what is known.