(New Haven, CT) - New Haven Judicial State’s Attorney John P. Doyle, Jr., announced that the Honorable David L. Zagaja today sentenced Lamont Quadir Smith-Reed, age 22, of New Haven, to serve 52 years in prison for the 2021 murder of Semaj Reddick-Streater, age 18, of Hamden.
A Superior Court jury in New Haven on September 19, 2025 found Smith-Reed guilty of the crime of Murder in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-8 and § 53a-54a(a) and Conspiracy to Commit Murder in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53-48(a) and § 53a-54a(a).
According to evidence introduced at trial, the defendant shot the victim in Hamden on May 30, 2021. After an extensive investigation, an arrest warrant was obtained on May 17, 2022.
At the sentencing, Judge Zagaja remarked that Smith-Reed “intentionally and purposely targeted and hunted Semaj Reddick until his task was accomplished.”
The case was investigated by the Hamden Police Department and was prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Seth R. Garbarsky and Assistant State’s Attorney Sarah E. Jones, with assistance from Inspector Michael Mastropetre.
State’s Attorney Doyle would like to extend his gratitude to the Hamden Police Department for their investigative efforts, as well as the FBI in New Haven and the State of Connecticut Division of Scientific Services for their cooperation and assistance.