A string of shootings over the weekend in Hartford have left two people dead, nine others hurt, and city residents demanding answers.
In response to the violent weekend, Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra and acting Hartford Police Chief James Rovella met behind closed doors at city hall Monday morning.
Afterward, they pledged to increase patrols.
"That's been part of the plan and that's what we've been doing," said Segarra. "We have been deploying resources but more resources in a coordinated way, in an effective way."
"Historically our shootings begin to go up in May, June, July, and August and we try to address that early on," said Rovella. "For instance, we had a very good May this year. June just picked up this weekend."
The city has no plans to request the assistance of state troopers in Hartford for the summer, said Segarra.
In all, there were eight separate shootings in Hartford over the weekend. Police say they've identified links between two of them and say the rest may be unrelated.
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A small memorial now stands in a parking lot at Huntington and Ashley Streets where Michael Bailey, Jr., 24, was shot and killed early Saturday morning.
Relatives, friends, and even strangers continue stopping by the site.
"He didn't bother no one and no one bothered him and this is just an unfortunate situation. It's just, gone too soon," said Jessica Spencer, a friend of Bailey's.
At Windsor High School, it was a tough day for friends of DaJon Walcott, 16, who was shot and killed at a house party on Thomaston Street in Hartford Saturday night.
The school provided grief counselors for students.
"When I heard it, it's like you can't believe it. I'm used to seeing him everyday. He's not there anymore. I think that's the worst part," said Brandon Davis, a Windsor High School student.
In response to the violence, Hartford police are also pushing for state funding to launch an offender re-entry program to assist men and women transition into the community after they get out of prison.
"We need to make sure we have the resources to coordinate the re-entry efforts for these individuals, these men and women who find themselves in our city and probably need a lot more support than they're currently getting," said Segarra.
Officials in Hartford are asking for a $750,000 multi-year program and they're hoping the state legislature will take up the issue during its special session on Tuesday, according to city officials.
The shootings broke out after a recent decline in violence in Hartford.
Residents say more needs to be done.
"We're talking about human beings dying. Human beings been shot. This is not animals that are dying. These are people," said Rev. Henry Brown, a community activist.
"It's sad but all we can do is stick together," said Spencer.
