Noel Gonzalez, 20, was fatally shot on the front porch of his Barnum Avenue home in Stratford, Connecticut, on July 30, 2011. He died from a single gunshot wound to the head while friends and children were present on the porch. Surveillance from a nearby convenience store captured six young men in three cars leaving the lot and driving toward Gonzalez’s residence shortly before the shooting. Witnesses said Gonzalez shouted at the passing cars and may have fired shots into the air or at the vehicles; at least four shots were then fired from one of the cars toward Gonzalez.

Police arrested 24-year-old Jose Rivera after he surrendered and initially confessed to shooting Gonzalez, and investigators recovered the murder weapon at Rivera’s home. Rivera later recanted, saying he was covering for 23-year-old Wilfredo Martinez, who was then arrested and charged with murder, attempted murder and related offenses. Martinez ultimately pleaded guilty to reduced charges of second-degree manslaughter and carrying a pistol without a permit and received a 10-year prison term; Gonzalez’s family expressed that the sentence did not bring them justice.

If anyone knew Noel, his movements that night, or has information about the cars or men seen on Barnum Avenue, please come forward.