Hartford Homicide Victim Identified

Hartford police have acknowledged that they might have missed a gunshot victim when they initially responded to reports of gunfire near Linnmore Street last night.

Police found nothing last night, but neighbors discovered a bullet-riddled body in a yard at 321 Linnmoore Street this morning.

The victim has been identified as Valentine Santos, 21, of Vernon. Santos died from gunshot wounds to the torso and extremeties, according to the medical examiner's office.

Now investigators are saying the victim might have been overlooked at first pass.

Neighbors said they heard gunshots last night and called police around 10:30 p.m.

Brenda Oquendo, of Hartford, is one such neighbor.

“I heard seven to 10 shots like 10:30 in the night,” Osquendo said.

Jerry Gemmell said his wife heard them too.

“She called me and said, 'You better get home. There's police cars all over the neighborhood, and there may have been gunshots,'” said Gemmell.

The murder in this otherwise quiet community has left residents on edge.

“People look out for each other, so I'm really surprised this happened,” Carmen Duhaney said.

Paula Rama said she moved here because it was quiet.

Police collected evidence today and were using a metal detector at one point.


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