FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Bridgeport, CT) – Margaret E. Kelley, Ansonia/Milford Judicial District State’s Attorney, and the Connecticut State Police Western District Major Crime Squad today announced that the State of Connecticut is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Jawara Stennett’s killer or killers. Mr. Stennett age 39, of Brooklyn, New York, was fatally shot on the Exit 43 on-ramp to Interstate 95 in West Haven at about 10 p.m. on August 2, 2020.
On that night, Mr. Stennett was on his way home to New York after attending a family birthday party in Connecticut in honor of his father. Police responding to the I-95 exit ramp following reports of a shooting there found Mr. Stennett suffering from gunshot wounds to his torso. His death was subsequently determined to be a homicide. Mr. Stennett leaves behind a loving family, including six children.
Despite exhaustive investigative efforts by the Connecticut State Police, Mr. Stennett’s murder remains unsolved. In the hope of continuing to move this investigation forward, Governor Ned Lamont has authorized a reward in the amount of $50,000 to any individual providing information leading to the arrest and conviction of Mr. Stennett’s killer.
In addition, investigators are interested in speaking with the operator of a white Lexus GX 460 sport utility vehicle with a Connecticut license tag that was seen on video footage driving north on Campbell Avenue near Interstate 95 in West Haven on August 2, 2020 at about 10 p.m. Video 1 Video 2
“Mr. Stennett’s family deserves to know what happened to their father, son, brother and loved one,” State’s Attorney Kelley said. “Now, we are asking for the public’s help in giving them an answer. We know that there are individuals with information pertaining to this investigation who have yet to come forward. Even if you have information that you don’t think is particularly useful, please share it with us so we can put it into the larger context of the entire investigation. Any information is useful in trying to piece this puzzle together.”
Investigators are asking that anyone with information about the shooting to contact Detective Sgt. Michael Beauton at michael.beauton@ct.gov, Detective Maxwell Robins at (860) 805-3167 and maxwell.robins@ct.gov or Division of Criminal Justice Inspector Herbert Johnson at (203) 687-6816 and herbert.johnson@ct.gov.
“Detectives from the Connecticut State Police Western District Major Crime Squad have been diligently working on this case for four years,” Detective Sgt. Beauton said. “Now, we are requesting help from the public in an effort to identify Mr. Stennett’s killer and bring justice to the Stennett family.”
The Ansonia/Milford State’s Attorney’s Office is grateful to Governor Lamont for offering this reward and to members of the Connecticut State Police Western District Major Crime Squad for their work and dedication to this investigation.