A Hartford man, who is a convicted felon, was taken into custody at Los Angeles International Airport and is being held on $5 million court set bond in connection with an assault in West Hartford.

By Ronni Newton

West Hartford Police are awaiting the extradition of a suspect from Los Angeles, who is currently in custody on $5 million court set bond, and plan to charge him with second-degree assault with a firearm, second-degree breach of peace, and reckless driving in connection with a pistol-whipping assault of an individual in West Hartford Center earlier this month.

The suspect, Edwin Franqui, 27, of Hartford, was currently out on bond and awaiting a trial date on charges in connection with another case that include accessory to murder.

According to West Hartford Police Capt. Daniel Moffo, officers responded to the area of 11 South Main Street on Sept. 10, 2023, at approximately 2:08 a.m., on a report that someone had been pistol-whipped in the head.

The victim, who suffered non-life-threatening injuries, was located and provided medical aid at the scene by responders before being transported to a local hospital for treatment and evaluation.

The victim told police that they had been walking with a group of people through the parking lot behind 977 Farmington Avenue, down the driveway to South Main Street. According to police, the victim said that while walking, they had observed a vehicle being driven erratically while attempting to exit the parking lot, and the vehicle reportedly came close to striking the victim and others in the group of people.

Police said the victim reportedly engaged in a confrontation with an occupant of the vehicle, who then “exited, produced a handgun, and struck the victim on the top of their head” before fleeing the scene.

The scene was secured and police, including the Detective Division, launched an investigation, resulting in the identification of the suspect as Franqui.

Police were able to secure an extraditable arrest warrant, which was approved with the $5 million bond, and Franqui was located and taken into custody at Los Angeles International Airport on Sept. 13 by members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Los Angeles Police Department.

The process is underway, in partnership with Hartford Criminal Court, to have Franqui returned to Connecticut where he will officially be charged in connection with the Sept. 10 incident.

Online court records indicate that Franqui has multiple other charges pending, as well as previous felony convictions for which he has been incarcerated.

Prior charges include strangulation, violation of a protective order, illegal possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle, and illegal possession of a high capacity magazine.

Franqui had been released on $1.25 million surety bond and was awaiting trial on charges of accessory to murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and first-degree assault in connection with a July 6, 2020 shooting in which the victim had been fatally shot on Capitol Avenue in Hartford before crashing the vehicle he was driving into what was then a Subway at 1037 Boulevard in West Hartford.  The Hartford Courant reported in February 2023 that Franqui turned down a plea deal in the case which would have required him to serve a 25-year prison term.

A vehicle crashed into the side of what was then a Subway at 1037 Boulevard in West Hartford on July 6, 2020 after a shooting in Hartford. Photo credit: Ronni Newton (we-ha.com file photo)

West Hartford Police ask that any member of the public who has any information regarding the Sept. 10 incident, or other incidents, please contact the West Hartford Police Department via the anonymous tip line at 860-570-8969 or via email at [email protected].

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