Juvenile Charged in Hamden Murder

A 22-year-old man was found shot to death on North Street on Saturday night, according to Hamden police, and they have arrested a teenager suspected in the shooting.

Around 9:30 p.m., Hamden police responded to 19 North St. and found James Dudley suffering from multiple gun shot wounds in front of a house.

Dudley was transported to the Hospital of St. Raphael, where he was pronounced dead.

"James is my youngest son.  That's my baby, and I'm going to miss my baby," said James Dudley, who named his son after himself.

Police said Dudley was shot after an argument with another person near his car. What that fight was over is something that police are trying to determine.

Dudley grew up on North Street and still had many friends who lived there, according to his family.  The Hamden High School graduate was working on a college degree and worked with special needs children through the ACES program.

"For kids to work with disabled kids at this young age, that tells you about his character right there," said Danny Heard, Dudley's stepfather.

Detectives used connections in the community and even social media to help track down the suspect, according to police.

The quick arrest didn't bring much consolation to Dudley's grieving family.

"My son was a good kid," said Pam Heard, Dudley's mother.  "He had so many friends and for someone to take his life at such a young age."

The teen suspect's name has not been released. The person was charged with felony murder, unlawful discharge of a firearm and carrying a pistol without a permit.

The suspect was transferred to the juvenile detection center in Bridgeport on Sunday, according to police.

Police are asking anyone with any information to call them at 203-230-4000.

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