West Hartford Police took Edwin Franqui into custody in Los Angeles, and he is now in custody in Connecticut with bond set at $5 million.

By Ronni Newton

West Hartford Police said Tuesday that department detectives took a suspect into custody in Los Angeles, CA on Oct. 10 and have extradited him to Connecticut where he has been charged 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 in September.

Edwin Franqui, 27, of Hartford, is currently in custody on court-set surety bond of $5 million.

When the incident in West Hartford occurred on Sept. 10, Franqui was out on $1.25 million bond and awaiting a trial date 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 that case which would have required him to serve a 25-year prison term.

The incident in West Hartford occurred on Sept. 10, 2023,  at approximately 2:08 a.m., according to West Hartford Police Capt. Daniel Moffo. Officers responded to the area of 11 South MainStreet 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.

West Hartford Police worked with Hartford Criminal Court to have Franqui returned to Connecticut where he was officially 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.

In addition to accessory to murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and first-degree assault, Franqui’s 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’s court date on the charges from West Hartford Police is Nov. 2, according to online records.

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].

Like what you see here? Click here to subscribe to We-Ha’s newsletter so you’ll always be in the know about what’s happening in West Hartford! Click the blue button below to become a supporter of We-Ha.com and our efforts to continue producing quality journalism.