HARTFORD, Conn — A jury found Daniel Baez guilty of the 2020 murder of Elijah Ortega in Windsor Locks on Monday.
Baez, 26, of Hartford, was found guilty of the crime of murder for the 2020 fatal shooting of Ortega, 16, in Windsor Locks.
Prosecutors showed in court that on June 24, 2020, Windsor Locks police officers were called to Pesci Park for a report of shots fired in the area. A confrontation between two individuals was planned at the park in an effort to settle a dispute.
Witnesses testified that they saw Baez pull a gun out of a fanny pack. Ortega yelled for everyone to run, and as he did, Baez shot at Ortega, hitting him twice. Ortega, a member of the Windsor Locks High School basketball team, was taken to Hartford Hospital where he died from his injuries.
At a vigil held after the shooting Ortega's basketball teammates and coach were also there in support as they wore shirts with his picture.
Sentencing is scheduled for January 5, 2024, in Hartford Superior Court.
Doug Stewart is a Senior Digital Content Producer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dstewart@fox61.com.
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