Timothy Coleman

Timothy Coleman was on the cusp of a new and joyful chapter in his life. At 38 years old, the Hartford, Connecticut, man was a devoted husband and a respected church deacon who was known as a hardworking individual dedicated to his faith and family. He and his wife, Minta, were excitedly awaiting the birth of their first child, a son. Coleman had been actively turning his life around, and the future looked bright. That future was stolen in a burst of gunfire on a late summer evening.

On the night of September 2, 2009, police responded to a report of shots fired in the area of 102 Edgewood Street in Hartford's North End. When they arrived, they found Timothy Coleman, a male, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries later that evening. The life he had been building, and the chance to meet his son, vanished in an act of violence that left his family shattered and a community searching for answers.

The Hartford Police Department immediately launched a homicide investigation, but the case quickly grew cold. Despite their efforts, investigators were unable to develop sufficient information to identify a suspect or make an arrest. The neighborhood where the shooting occurred is a dense residential area, but no witnesses came forward with the key piece of information needed to solve the crime. In the years that followed, the case was handed over to cold case detectives who continue to seek new leads.

Minta Coleman gave birth to their son, Timothy Jr., just months after her husband's murder. She has spoken of the immense pain of raising a child who would only know his father through stories and photographs. She described her husband as a "gentle giant" who was overjoyed about becoming a father. His death left a void that has never been filled, and his family continues to hope that someone will break the long silence and provide the information that could lead to justice. "He was a good man," his wife recalled in an interview years later, emphasizing his commitment to his family and his church.

The investigation into Timothy Coleman's murder remains open and active. As of November 2025, no arrests have been made, and no suspects have been publicly named. His case is listed among the unsolved homicides with the Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice, a persistent reminder of a life cut short and a family’s enduring grief. The city and state have not forgotten him, and authorities believe that someone holds the information necessary to bring the killer to justice.

To encourage potential witnesses to come forward, the State of Connecticut is offering a $50,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Timothy Coleman's death. Investigators urge anyone with even the smallest detail to share what they know. Tips can be submitted anonymously to the Hartford Police Department at 860-722-8477 or to the state's Cold Case Unit at 1-866-623-8058.