Press Releases
07/18/2023
James Dexter Brown Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for 2008 Cold Case Murder of Kenny Sullivan in Hartford
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Rocky Hill, CT) – Chief State’s Attorney Patrick J. Griffin announced today that on July 17, 2023, the Honorable Nuala E. Droney sentenced James Dexter Brown to 40 years in prison for the 2008 fatal shooting of Kenny Sullivan, age 20, in Harford.
A Hartford Superior Court jury on March 17, 2023, found Brown, age 33, of East Hartford, guilty of Murder in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-54a.
According to evidence at trial, on June 26, 2008, police responded to a report of a shooting in the area of Main Street and Trumbull Street in Hartford and found the victim with a gunshot wound to his abdomen. He was rushed to a local hospital and later died.
Following an investigation by the Hartford Police Department, the Division of Criminal Justice’s Cold Case Unit and federal authorities, investigators learned from witnesses that before the shooting, there were verbal and physical altercations between two street gangs during a concert inside the XL Center. A large fight between the two groups also occurred outside after the concert ended. Witnesses told investigators that Brown fatally shot the victim. Police arrested Brown in connection with the victim's death on December 14, 2018.
The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Robin D. Krawczyk and Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney John F. Fahey, head of the Cold Case Unit.
“The resolution of this case is the result of countless hours of hard work by dedicated investigators and prosecutors who never give up their search for justice for the victims of unimaginable crimes,” Chief State’s Attorney Griffin said. “The Cold Case Unit remains committed to these cases and will continue to work hard so the perpetrators of these crimes are held accountable and their families are provided some measure of peace.”
The Cold Case Unit is comprised of prosecutors and investigators from the Division of Criminal Justice who work closely on cold cases with the Connecticut State Police and municipal police departments. The Cold Case Unit in the Office of the Chief State's Attorney currently includes Inspectors from the Division of Criminal Justice as well as investigators from the Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction. For more information about the Unit, visit the Division of Criminal Justice’s website or the Unit’s Facebook page.