A man has been sentenced to 65 years in prison for shooting two people following an argument in an apartment in Hartford in 2022, killing one of them.
Benjamin White, 38, of Hartford received the sentence during a hearing Wednesday in Hartford Superior Court, according to the state Division of Criminal Justice.
Following a trial in October, a jury found White guilty of murder, first-degree assault and criminal possession of a firearm. DCJ officials said he was sentenced to 50 years on the murder charge, 10 years on the assault charge and five years on the firearm offense.
Judge Joseph B. Schwartz ordered that the prison terms be served consecutively, officials said.
The sentencing comes after White was convicted in the fatal shooting of 33-year-old Simon Griffin on Aug. 11, 2022.
The shooting occurred in an apartment on Laurel Street where officers responded when they received a 911 call around 9 p.m. from a man who said he and another person had been shot, according to the DCJ and the Hartford Police Department. The caller said the second victim was dead.
Officers found that Griffin had suffered two gunshot wounds to his head, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The second victim, a 27-year-old man, suffered a gunshot wound to his neck and was taken to a hospital, according to officials. He survived the shooting.
The surviving victim told authorities he was at Griffin’s apartment with him when White joined them in smoking and drinking, according to the DCJ. White was known to Griffin.
The victim told police Griffin and White got into an argument about a previous crime White had allegedly committed, officials said. White then left the room and returned with a firearm that he pointed at the two men, according to authorities.
White ordered both men to sit on the floor before shooting them, the victim told authorities.
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, Hartford Judicial District State’s Attorney Sharmese L. Walcott said she appreciates “the bravery” of the surviving victim for “coming forward to ensure that justice would be done on behalf of himself and his deceased friend.” She also thanked him for being present at the sentencing hearing.
“His voice was heard and a just sentence was imposed,” Walcott said.
Walcott also acknowledged the dedication given to the case by Hartford Det. Jeffrey Pethigal and the police department’s Major Crimes Unit.
This case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant State’s Attorney Danielle O’Connell with support from Deputy Assistant State’s Attorney Owen Kivela and the assistance of Inspector Carlos Ocasio and Paralegal Specialist Kelly Randall.