(Hartford, CT) – Sharmese L. Walcott, State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of Hartford, today announced that a jury in Hartford Superior Court on November 22, 2024 found Daniel Lopez, age 33, of Hartford, guilty of Murder, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-54a. The Honorable Kevin C. Doyle presided over the trial.
According to evidence presented at the trial, on April 14, 2021, Hartford police were dispatched to Babcock Street in Hartford on a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, police found Heriberto Garcia, age 31, of Hartford, suffering from a single gunshot wound to the upper chest. A witness spoke to police and identified Lopez as the shooter. The witness stated that they looked inside a car and saw the victim sitting in the front passenger seat and Lopez in the rear seat directly behind the victim. The witness reported that as Lopez was holding the victim in a headlock from behind, they heard a single gunshot and saw the flash of a gun. The victim fell forward in the car and the witness immediately began to try to render aid. Lopez exited the car, threatened to shoot the witness and eventually fled the scene. The witness called 911 to report the incident. The victim was transported by ambulance to Hartford Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
In addition to the jury verdict, Judge Doyle found Lopez guilty of two counts of Criminal Possession of a Firearm/Ammunition, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-217(a)(1).
This case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Kelly Davis and Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Terence D. Mariani, Jr., with the assistance of Inspector Emory Hightower and Paralegal Specialist Kelly Randall.
Sentencing is scheduled for January 31, 2025 in Hartford Superior Court.