Aaron Christian, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, Connecticut 2023

HARTFORD, CT – A chaotic shootout following a memorial gathering erupted into a federal case, landing 30-year-old Aaron Christian of Hartford with a 21-month prison sentence. U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea handed down the sentence today, followed by three years of supervised release, after Christian pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.

The incident unfolded on April 18, 2022, when a shooter, believed to be connected to a rival gang, opened fire on attendees at a memorial in Hartford. Surveillance footage captured a terrifying scene: at least nine individuals brandishing firearms and returning fire. ShotSpotter technology documented approximately 50 shots fired in just 90 seconds, scattering 31 shell casings across the scene. Authorities allege Christian was among those who discharged a weapon, targeting the fleeing assailant.

Three months later, on July 14, 2022, Hartford Police attempted to arrest Christian outside a smoke shop on Franklin Avenue. Rather than comply, Christian bolted, attempting to ditch a loaded Ruger Model LCP .380 pistol onto the roof of the building. The gun bounced off the awning and landed on the sidewalk, where officers recovered it. Christian was quickly apprehended.

This wasn’t Christian’s first brush with the law. Court records reveal a history of state felony convictions, including offenses related to drugs, larceny, and threatening behavior. As a convicted felon, possessing a firearm that had crossed state lines is a federal crime, a fact that sealed his fate in this case. He has remained detained since his arrest last year.

The investigation was a joint effort between the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Gang Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Hartford Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John T. Pierpont Jr. and Robert S. Dearington prosecuted the case. While the federal case is now concluded, state charges related to the April 18th shooting remain pending against Christian.

U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery emphasized that this prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a Department of Justice initiative aimed at reducing violent crime. The program focuses on targeting the most dangerous offenders and collaborating with local organizations to prevent future offenses. Avery also thanked the Hartford State Attorney’s Office for their cooperation in bringing Christian to justice, though the streets of Hartford remain a volatile landscape.

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