In the early morning hours of November 10, 2007, Efrain Rodriguez, 30, was fatally shot in the parking lot of the MiBar restaurant on Park Street in Hartford. Officers on patrol heard several gunshots around 1:45 a.m. and found a 19-year-old male on the sidewalk with a gunshot wound to his leg; he was taken to Hartford Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Rodriguez was found with a gunshot wound to the chest and was taken to St. Francis Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 2:04 a.m.

Rodriguez lived in Avon and worked at the University of Hartford. Born in Springfield, Massachusetts, he had moved to Hartford as a teenager. He was remembered as a talented pencil artist, a kind-hearted man with a bright smile, and the father of a young daughter he had recently taught to fish.

The Major Crimes Division of the Hartford Police Department investigated, later involving the Cold Case Unit of the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney. Investigators identified two suspects: in August 2008, 16-year-old Alexander Torres was arrested and charged with murder, first-degree assault, and carrying a pistol without a permit; in October 2009, 25-year-old Samuel Quiles of Middletown was arrested and charged with accessory to murder and carrying a pistol without a permit. If anyone knew Rodriguez or has information about that night, please share what you know.