Police have arrested a man in connection with a shooting in Hartford last September that left one man dead and another man injured during a particularly deadly weekend in the city.
Omar Cancel, 22, of Hartford faces charges of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, first-degree assault, conspiracy to commit first-degree assault, carrying a pistol without a permit, unlawful discharge of a firearm and second-degree larceny, according to Lt. Aaron Boisvert of the Hartford Police Department.
Cancel was apprehended Wednesday after he was found by the police department’s Violent Crimes Unit, Fugitive Task Force and Auto Theft Unit, Boisvert said.
Cancel has been charged in a shooting on Sept. 28, 2025, that left 43-year-old Dwight Watson of Hartford dead, according to Boisvert. Officers responded to the area of 131 Brook St. shortly after 8:50 p.m. for a ShotSpotter alert and found Watson suffering from gunshot wounds.
According to Boisvert, Watson was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. A second victim who was also injured in the shooting took himself to a hospital where he was treated for injuries that were not life-threatening, Boisvert said.
The Hartford Police Major Crimes Division and Crime Scene Division conducted the investigation. Authorities were able to identify Cancel as a suspect before obtaining a warrant for his arrest.
The shooting occurred during a deadly weekend in Hartford. During five separate shootings over two days, two people were killed and four others were injured.
Cancel was being held in lieu of a $1.5 million bond at the Hartford Police Detention Facility while awaiting an arraignment hearing.