Hartford Shooting Task Force makes two gun-related arrests

Two Connecticut residents were arrested last week following the reinstatement of the joint Hartford Shooting Task Force.

Kahari Martin

HARTFORD, Conn. - Two Connecticut residents were arrested last week following the reinstatement of the joint Hartford Shooting Task Force.

Tyrone Washington, 20, of Manchester, and Kahari Martin, 21, of Hartford, were arrested and charged with attempted murder, attempting to commit murder and conspiracy to commit murder, following an investigation by the task force.

According to police, the team was called to the intersection of Love Lane and Westland Street around 1:48 p.m. on July 7 to investigate a report of shots fired. An investigation ensued and the team obtained search and seizure warrants for homes in Hartford and Manchester, leading to the arrest of Washington and Martin on July 8.

Tyrone Washington

As part of the investigation, Hartford police also seized a tan Nissan Maxima believed to have been used in multiple shootings throughout the city, including the incident in question on July 7.

According to a report in the Hartford Courant, witnesses at the scene in the city's north end said Washington was the shooter and Martin was the driver when the Maxima pulled up to the scene when shots were fired at an unnamed man.

Hartford Mayor Pedro E. Segarra, who reinstated the team on July 1, praised the work of the task force, crediting "their quick response and thorough investigation" for removing "two dangerous individuals" from the community.

Police Chief Daryl K. Roberts also praised the work of the Task Force, "This is just the beginning of the work of the Shooting Task Force, and it is a great beginning. I commend all law enforcement and judicial agencies involved for their quick action that helped in the apprehension of these dangerous individuals."

Both men were arraigned in Hartford Superior Court and remain in custody on $750,000 bond, with a court date of July 26th, 2011.

The Hartford Shooting Team is a partnership between the Hartford Police Department, Office of the Hartford State's Attorney, Office of the Chief State's Attorney, the Connecticut State Police, the Department of Corrections, and the East Hartford, West Hartford and Manchester police departments. It is charged with investigating gun violence and bring those responsible for such violence to prosecution.