A man has been found guilty on murder and assault charges in connection with a shooting in Hartford in 2022 that left one person dead and another injured.
A jury returned a guilty verdict on Tuesday against 38-year-old Benjamin White of Hartford, finding him guilty of murder, first-degree assault and criminal possession of a firearm, according to the state Division of Criminal Justice.
The verdict followed a trial in Hartford Superior Court in connection with a shooting on Aug. 11, 2022, that left 33-year-old Simon Griffin dead, officials said.
According to the DCJ and the Hartford Police Department, officers responded to an apartment on Laurel Street after receiving a 911 call around 9 p.m. from a man who said he and another person had been shot. The caller said the second victim was dead, according to police.
Responding officers found that Griffin had suffered two gunshot wounds to his head and was pronounced dead at the scene, police and DCJ officials said. The second victim, a 27-year-old man, suffered a gunshot wound to his neck and was taken to a hospital. He ultimately survived.
The surviving victim told authorities he was at Griffin’s apartment with him when White, who was known to Griffin, joined them in smoking and drinking, according to the DCJ. Griffin and White reportedly got into an argument about a previous crime White had allegedly committed, officials said.
During the argument, White left the room and, when he returned, he was armed with a firearm that he pointed at both men, according to officials. He ordered both men to sit on the floor and shot them, officials allege.
According to court records, White has previously pleaded guilty to charges of carrying a dangerous weapon and possession with intent to sell.
In a statement issued Wednesday by the DCJ, Hartford State’s Attorney Sharmese L. Walcott acknowledged the “bravery of the surviving victim for coming forward to ensure that justice would be done on behalf of himself and his deceased friend.”
“State’s Attorney Walcott also would like to thank the Hartford Police Department, namely Det. Jeffrey Pethigal, for dedicating additional time and resources to ensure that this case was fully and properly presented at trial,” the statement continued.
White remains held on a $5 million bond while he awaits sentencing, which is scheduled for Jan. 14, 2026.