A man with alleged gang ties has been convicted of trying to murder a police officer in 2021 hours after investigators identified him as a person of interest in the fatal shooting of a woman found dead in a Spring Street apartment in Hartford.
Jose Cajigas, 35, of Hartford was found guilty of attempted murder, assault on a police officer and criminal possession of a firearm, according to the state Division of Criminal Justice.
DCJ officials said Judge Nuala E. Droney made the guilty finding during a hearing on Friday in Hartford Superior Court.
The charges stem from what police described as an unprovoked shooting involving a young police officer who was on patrol in her cruiser in a parking lot at 1921 Main St. in Hartford around 1:30 a.m. on Oct. 26, 2021, when she spotted a man with an orange umbrella walking toward her vehicle, according to the DCJ.
The man, who was later identified as Cajigas, paced in front of the vehicle before approaching the driver’s side, officials said. The officer, who had been on the force at the time for less than two years, asked Cajigas what he needed.
“You need a ride? What’s going on?” the officer says in a video of the incident.
Cajigas moved away from the vehicle for a few seconds before reengaging in conversation, DCJ officials said.
The video showed that the officer then asked if he was on medication or drunk, telling him, “All right, you need an ambulance? Probably? All right.”
Cajigas’ demeanor suddenly changed once he was asked if he had been drinking, officials said. He reportedly told the officer that he was intoxicated and possibly needed assistance.
The officer told Cajigas to sit on the hood of her vehicle while she radioed for an ambulance, according to officials. She then suddenly heard a loud bang as the driver’s side window shattered.
DCJ officials said the officer initially believed Cajigas threw something at the vehicle. She moved the cruiser and told dispatchers what had just happened, keeping her eyes on Cajigas as she did, according to previous reports.
Police said it was later determined that Cajigas had fired a gun toward the officer and that the bullet narrowly missed her. The window shattered into her face, leaving her with cut wounds.
After moving her vehicle, the officer circled back and told dispatchers Cajigas could be seen fleeing toward a cemetery, DCJ officials said.
Officers who responded to the area established a perimeter around the cemetery and apprehended Cajigas within minutes, officials said. In the immediate area, police found an orange umbrella and a loaded .22 caliber Jennings firearm, according to the DCJ.
Investigators who combed through the parking lot where the shooting took place found a .22 caliber shell casing, officials said.
Following the shooting, Hartford police said Cajigas was a person of interest in the murder of 53-year-old Catherine Hayes, who was found dead a day earlier around 4 p.m. in an apartment about a mile away from the parking lot where the officer was nearly shot, according to previous reports. She was found after officers responded to the unit on the report that a woman may have overdosed or experienced some other kind of medical emergency.
At the time, police said they had identified Cajigas as a person of interest in Hayes’ killing prior to the shooting involving the officer, reports said. They also said they expected to charge him in her death, reports said.
A forensic analysis showed that the shell casing found in the parking lot where the cruiser was shot matched the casing found in the apartment where Hayes had been killed, according to previous reporting.
Previous reports indicated that Cajigas was believed to have ties to the Los Solidos gang.
Court records reviewed Wednesday indicate Cajigas has a number of cases still pending, including those involving murder and criminal possession of a firearm charges, which stem from the day Hayes was found dead. In another case stemming from an incident in September 2021, Cajigas faces accessory to murder and another criminal possession of a firearm charge, records show.
The law firm representing Cajigas did not immediately return a request for comment Wednesday.
According to the DCJ, the case involving the officer who was shot at was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney Alexandra Arroyo, Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Brett J. Salafia, Inspectors Joseph Buyak and Emory Hightower, and Paralegal Specialists Kelly Randall and Lakisha Malave.
In a statement announcing the conviction, Hartford State’s Attorney Sharmese L. Walcott said she is “appreciative of the hard work the prosecution team put into the case, is thankful for the full support of the process by the Hartford Police Department, including command staff, and is thankful that this horrific situation was thwarted by the quick action of the officer.”
Walcott used the incident to remind the public “of the danger law enforcement officers” are in every day “just by virtue of the oath they took to protect and serve our community,” according to the DCJ.
“A sincere thank you goes out to all sworn law enforcement officers on behalf of the entire Hartford State’s Attorney’s Office,” Walcott said.
According to the state Department of Correction, Cajigas is being held on bonds totaling more than $7.5 million. He is expected to face sentencing in the officer shooting on Jan. 9, 2026.
