Community members gathered for a vigil on Barbour Street Saturday afternoon in memory of 23-year-old Alford Grayson, who was stabbed to death inside Blue's Package Store Wednesday night.
Grayson was stabbed in the chest with a knife outside the store at 139 Barbour Street at 7 p.m. that night and transported him to the emergency room at Saint Francis Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 10 p.m.
About 50 people came to the vigil to remember Grayson.
Meanwhile there was another case of violence on Barbour Street Saturday involving a dispute between two men over a woman. A man is in critical condition after he was shot in the face near 8 Barbour Street and police have a suspect in custody.
As for the stabbing death of Grayson, police charged Paul Hunter, 36, of the Broad Brook section of East Windsor, with his murder. He is suspected of stabbing Grayson in a dispute over a woman in the package store at 139 Barbour Street around 7 p.m. that night. He is claiming self defense.
When officers chased Hunter down as he ran from the scene and took him into custody, he was still holding the knife, police said.
During an interview with police, Hunter said he was talking to a girl two weeks ago on Judson Street and Grayson wanted to fight him after that, according to police documents.
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On Wednesday night, the two men were in the liquor store and Grayson started "trash talking," Hunter told police. Then they two men got into a fight, with Grayson throwing a punch and Hunter blocking it, Hunter told police.
He admitted to choking and punching Grayson until someone else got into the middle of the fight, according to police.
Then he said he "must have" pulled out a knife and "guess(es) he stabbed Alford Grayson," according to police.
Hunter has been charged with murder and Grayson's death was the city's 12th homicide of the year.
Hunter was arrested Wednesday and charged with murder, interfering with police, carrying a dangerous weapon and assault on police. His bond was set at $1.5 million.
Grayson's death was the second Hartford homicide that day and the third act of violence in the capital city in 24 hours.
