Hartford police are investigating the fatal shooting of Alfredo Cuellar, a 43-year-old man who was killed early Wednesday morning in the area of 98 Rowe Avenue. Officers were alerted at 1:41 a.m. through both a ShotSpotter activation and a citizen’s call reporting gunfire. When they arrived, they found Cuellar lying unresponsive in the roadway with gunshot wounds. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Police said approximately seven shots were fired during the incident. Detectives from the Major Crimes and Crime Scene Divisions processed the area for evidence and canvassed the neighborhood for witnesses or surveillance footage that might help identify the shooter. At this stage of the investigation, no suspect has been named and no arrests have been made.
Additional reporting confirmed that officers responded within minutes of the ShotSpotter alert, which recorded multiple rounds fired. The early morning timing meant few people were outside, making witness accounts limited. Police said they are working to determine whether the shooting was targeted or connected to any ongoing disputes in the area.
Authorities emphasized that Cuellar was found in the street near his vehicle, though they have not released details about whether he had been entering or exiting it at the time of the shooting. The location, a residential block of Rowe Avenue, has seen police activity in the past, but investigators have not yet indicated whether this incident is tied to prior cases.
The Hartford Police Department is urging anyone with information to come forward. Even small details, such as hearing a vehicle speeding away or seeing unfamiliar activity in the area, could help detectives piece together what happened. The case remains active as investigators continue reviewing evidence and awaiting further leads.
Community members expressed concern about the violence and the fact that the shooter remains at large. Police have increased patrols in the neighborhood as a precaution while the investigation continues. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Hartford Police Tip Line at 860 722 TIPS (8477).
