Press Releases
11/06/2023
Jury Finds Daniel Baez Guilty of the 2020 Murder of Elijah Ortega in Windsor Locks
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Hartford, CT) – Sharmese L. Walcott, Hartford State’s Attorney, announced that a Superior Court jury today found Daniel Baez, age 26, of Hartford, guilty of the crime of Murder, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-54a, for the 2020 fatal shooting of Elijah Ortega, age 16, in Windsor Locks. The Honorable Kevin C. Doyle presided over the trial.
Evidence presented at trial showed that on June 24, 2020, Windsor Locks police officers were called to Pesci Park for a report of shots fired in the area. Investigations revealed that a confrontation between two parties was planned at the park in an effort to settle a dispute. Witnesses testified that they saw Baez pull a gun out of a fanny pack. Ortega yelled for everyone to run, and as he did, Baez shot at Ortega, hitting him twice. Ortega, a member of the Windsor Locks High School basketball team, was taken to Hartford Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
State’s Attorney Walcott commended the work of Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Jesse Giddings, the lead prosecutor in the case, and Certified Legal Interns Olivia Jones and Kevin Gaidos, and Inspector Joseph Buyak.
Sentencing is scheduled for January 5, 2024 in Hartford Superior Court.