FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(New Haven, CT) – John P. Doyle, Jr., State’s Attorney for the New Haven Judicial District, announced that Jenigh Ward, age 20, of Hamden, pleaded guilty today before the Honorable Gerald L. Harmon to one count of Murder, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-54a.
Pursuant to a plea agreement, Ward faces a total effective sentence of 35 years in prison when he is sentenced in New Haven Superior Court on August 12, 2024.
Ward’s plea stems from the murder of Elijah Gomez on May 9, 2022. On that date, Hamden Police responded to the Farmington Canal trail, near the area of Treadwell Street, for a report of shots fired. Gomez, a freshman at Hamden High School, was found on scene suffering from multiple gunshot wounds and was later pronounced deceased. The shooting was captured on nearby surveillance cameras and showed that Ward — along with two unidentified individuals — followed Gomez as he walked home from school. Ward shot Gomez multiple times and fled the scene. He was identified by area surveillance cameras, as well as his car, clothing, and ballistic evidence recovered from his bedroom that matched the type recovered from the scene of the shooting.
State’s Attorney Doyle wishes to extend his gratitude to the Hamden Police Department for their investigation of this case, which remains ongoing. “Ward’s senseless act of violence ended the life of 15 year-old Elijah as he was innocently walking home from school. While Ward will be held accountable, we are actively investigating the identities of the other two individuals involved,” Doyle said.
Anyone having information related to the identities of the two unknown suspects involved in this murder are urged to contact the Hamden Police Department's Major Crimes Unit at (203) 230-4040.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorneys Gregory L. Borrelli and Kelly E. Davis, with assistance from Inspector Michael Mastropetre.