Investigators in Hartford and West Hartford believe that guns used in two unrelated slayings might be found in Pope Park Pond in Hartford.
Matthew Rivera, 20, was killed in Harford in August 2009.
In January 2010, there was a shooting just over the West Hartford line on Park Road.
“Shots were fired from one vehicle to the other. One of the vehicles became disabled. As the person got out of the car trying to flee, they were shot down,” Capt. Don Melanson, of the West Hartford Police Department, said.
The victim in that case was identified as Christian Torres. Investigators don’t believe the shootings are related, but said they are sure Pope Park Pond holds the key to both cases.
“We know there’s evidence in there, and we want to find it,” Lt. Brian Foley, of the Hartford Police Department, said.
Police were using all their equipment, and possibly six divers, to search through the pond on Tuesday morning.
“We’re going to use underwater equipment and metal detectors … and, as a last resort, put divers in … to search the bottom of the water,” said Capt. Melanson.
Hartford investigators said they’ll do what it takes to make sure justice is served.
“This just goes to show our department’s commitment to use cold case, as well as our detectives’ tenacity, that we’re still going after these cases,” said Lt. Foley.
