UConn student shot, killed in Hartford during apparent attempted theft of ‘quite a bit’ of marijuana

A UConn student was shot and killed in Hartford Tuesday night during what police believe was an attempted theft of a large amount of marijuana, police said.

The Hartford Police Department on Wednesday identified the victim as Windsor resident Zaid Deje Langs-Myers, who would have turned 19 later this month.

Police officers and firefighters at about 10:36 p.m. responded to the area of High and Walnut streets on the report of a motor vehicle crash and found Langs-Myers outside a Lincoln Town Car suffering from gunshot wounds, according to police. He was taken to Saint Francis Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Hartford police Lt. Aaron Boisvert said officers used city cameras to backtrack the vehicle and discovered it had just been at 37 Brook St., where they responded and “located evidence of a shooting.”

“On scene there was quite a bit of marijuana where the crash happened, leading us to believe at this point in the investigation a robbery of that marijuana was the motive for the homicide,” Boisvert said.

Boisvert said Langs-Myers struck another motorist on Albany Avenue, who followed him, not knowing at that point the teen had been shot and was trying to escape. Langs-Myers then drove into a bridge.

A passenger in Langs-Myers’ vehicle was “unharmed” during the incident and has been cooperative with police, Boisvert said.

Boisvert said investigators were made aware during the investigation that Langs-Myers was a student at UConn.

“It’s horrible,” Boisvert said. “It’s horrible when anybody dies.”

“I also believe he’s never been in trouble before,” the lieutenant said.

A spokesperson for UConn said Langs-Myers had just finished his first year with the university, where he was enrolled at the Hartford campus.

“The UConn community is deeply shocked and grief stricken by this tragic loss and our thoughts are with Zaid’s family and friends,” the university said in a statement issued Wednesday.

According to Boisvert, there have been 12 homicides in Hartford so far this year compared to 17 during the same time period last year.

The Hartford police’s major crimes and crime scene divisions responded and assumed the investigation.

Anyone with any information has been asked to call the Hartford Police Department Tip Line at 860-722-TIPS (8477).