Person of Interest in Basement Killings Questioned

Hartford Police are questioning a person of interest after they discovered two men shot in the basement apartment of 86-88 Rowe Ave. on Hartford’s west side Sunday morning.

The shootings happened just after midnight.

Authorities said Jean Carlos Colon, 24, and Luis Soldevila, 37, were found early Sunday morning in a basement apartment on Rowe Avenue, the Associated Press reported. Colon was pronounced dead at the scene and Soldevila later died at a city hospital.

Santos Padua, 33, who lives in that apartment, is a person of interest, police said.  He was located Sunday night.

They are questioning him but haven't disclosed why.

Hartford Police Chief Daryl Roberts said the shooting may have been drug related, the Associated Press reports.

Court records show Padua has several drug convictions and was convicted in 2000 of carrying a weapon in a motor vehicle, according to the Associated Press.

Neighbors looked on as police gathered evidence Sunday morning.

Linda Oppelt of Hartford, said violence is the reason she moved last week.

“That doesn’t even surprise me. Someone was shot in my driveway a couple of weeks ago actually. I believe, I mean, the crime doesn’t shock me anymore." Oppelt said.

Police ask anyone with information to call Crimestoppers at 860-722-TIPS.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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