(Hartford, CT) - Sharmese L. Walcott, Hartford Judicial District State’s Attorney, today announced that a Superior Court jury in Hartford on July 3, 2025, found Jahki Jaheem Clarke, age 21, of Hartford, guilty of Manslaughter with a Firearm, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-55a, Tampering with Evidence, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-155, and Weapon in a Motor Vehicle, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 29a-38.
According to evidence introduced at the trial, on January 9, 2022, officers from the East Hartford Police Department responded to a call of an unresponsive male found in a driveway. Nakhai Grant, age 17, of East Hartford, had been shot in the torso and was pronounced dead at the scene. Through the investigation, witnesses and surveillance videos showed multiple suspects in a vehicle fleeing from the area where the victim was shot. The license plate led to the owner and driver of the car.
The driver and a passenger initially told police that the shooter was a 15-year-old passenger sitting in the rear of the car, who was arrested after confessing to the crime. But further investigation showed that the juvenile was not the actual shooter. The juvenile later recanted his previous statement and named Clarke as the shooter. The suspects stated that they had met with Grant to sell marijuana and that Grant had tried to steal the marijuana through the front passenger window. Clarke, located in the front passenger seat, shot Grant, and the driver of the vehicle sped away.
This case was prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Robert Diaz, with the assistance of Inspectors Luis Rodriguez and Carlos Ocasio, and certified legal intern Jackson Reis. The Honorable Michael J. Gustafson presided over the trial.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 9, 2025, in Hartford Superior Court.