Hartford Police are asking the public for help solving the 2021 killing of Jassmin Lewis, one of 11 cold case homicides for which Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont has authorized rewards of up to $25,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
Lewis, of East Hartford, was shot and killed in the early morning hours of Sunday, May 23, 2021, at the Buggy Bath Car Wash on Homestead Avenue. No suspect has been publicly identified, and the case remains unsolved more than five years later.
What Happened
Around 2 a.m. on May 23, 2021, Hartford officers responded to reports of gunfire near Homestead Avenue and Woodland Street. Police were alerted to the shooting through the city’s ShotSpotter gunfire-detection system. When officers arrived at the Buggy Bath Car Wash, they found Lewis suffering from gunshot wounds. She was taken to the hospital, where she later died of her injuries.
A man who was also shot during the incident was transported to the hospital in critical condition. He survived.
Investigators have not released information about a motive or a suspect description, and no arrests have been announced in connection with Lewis’s death.
The Reward and Wider Cold Case Initiative
Lewis’s case is one of 11 unsolved Hartford homicides that Gov. Ned Lamont has authorized for $25,000 rewards, part of a broader push by Hartford police to generate new leads in cases that have gone cold. The cases span from 2010 to 2024 and involve 10 male victims and one female victim Lewis.
At a press conference announcing the rewards, Hartford Police Lieutenant Aaron Boisvert said investigators believe many of the cases are “a single witness or piece of information away from being solved.” Hartford State’s Attorney Sharmese Walcott echoed that the effort is about more than money, noting that the cases represent people whose families are still waiting for answers.
Police say the reward will be paid out for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever is responsible for Lewis’s death.
How to Help
Anyone with information about the killing of Jassmin Lewis no matter how small it may seem is asked to contact the Hartford Police Tip Line at 860-722-TIPS (8477). Police have said tips can remain anonymous.
“If you recognize a name, remember something, or have information no matter how small it may seem please contact the Hartford Police Tip Line,” police said in a statement announcing the rewards. “Your information could help bring answers and justice to these families.”
As of this writing, Jassmin Lewis’s case remains open, and no arrests have been made.
