Homicide suspect allegedly carrying illegal Glock 9-millimeter arrested after high-speed chase in Hartford

Mike Mavredakis, Hartford Courant
Updated ·2 min read
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A suspect in a homicide investigation in East Hartford was arrested after a police chase into Hartford’s North End on Sunday night, according to the East Hartford Police Department.

The suspect, identified as 21-year-old Mehki Thompson, was allegedly carrying a modified automatic handgun and a high-capacity magazine in a stolen vehicle at the time of the arrest, police said.

Thompson is a suspect in an investigation into the homicide of Devonte Gardner, 28, of Waterbury on Sept. 14. He has not been charged in this case and there was no active warrant for his arrest in relation to this case, East Hartford Office Marc Caruso said Monday. The investigation is still open, Caruso said.

Gardner was found shot multiple times near Garden Street and Park Avenue on the night of Sept. 14. He was transported to the hospital and later pronounced dead, according to police at the time.

East Hartford police said they observed Thompson, who had two active failure-to-appear warrants, driving a stolen blue Honda Accord near the 100 block of Park Avenue Sunday night.

As police tried to stop him, he fled the scene and engaged police in a car chase, according to police. The pursuit continued into the North End of Hartford until Thompson stopped, got out of the vehicle and tried to run on foot, police said.

He was then taken into custody by East Hartford and Hartford police.

According to police, officers found a Glock 9-millimeter handgun that had been converted into an automatic weapon and a 30-round magazine on the passenger seat of the Honda.

Thompson was charged with carrying a pistol without a permit, illegal possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle, use of a machine gun for an aggressive purpose, illegal possession of a large capacity magazine and second-degree larceny.

Thompson had a re-arrest ordered for violation of probation for a felony assault charge from 2019, according to court records. His two active warrants have bonds totaling $1.1 million, police said Monday.