New Haven Man Gets 20 Years In Prison For 2024 Shooting That Seriously Injured Bystander: State's Attorney

NEW HAVEN, CT — On the eve of his trial, Jamar Boyd, 44, of New Haven, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 20 years in prison for shooting at a truck driver towing his car, with a bullet traveling across the street, into an apartment and hitting a young mom, playing with her kids, in the face, according to the state's attorney.

Dayton pleaded guilty to criminal attempt to commit first-degree assault and criminal possesssion of a firearm, Judicial District State’s Attorney John P. Doyle, Jr. said.

According to Doyle, on Aug. 25, 2024, the New Haven Police Department responded to emergency-911 calls of a firearm being discharged in the area of Garden Street.

Doyle said an investigation revealed that while the defendant was visiting an apartment on Garden Street, a neighbor informed him that his vehicle was being towed because it lacked the required parking permit for the area.

"The defendant had previously been cited numerous times for parking that same vehicle without a valid permit," Doyle said. "Upon learning his vehicle was being towed, the defendant exited the apartment, approached the tow truck driver, who was already driving away, and demanded that he stop and release the vehicle."

Doyle said that as the truck driver "continued down the street, the defendant retrieved a handgun from his waistband and fired five rounds at the truck."

He said one round struck the tow truck, and "another traveled across the street into an apartment, hitting a woman in the face."

"The woman, a young mother, had been in her front room playing with her two minor children when she was struck," Doyle said. "Fortunately, she survived her injuries, though the incident caused severe trauma to her and her children."

Boyd was legally prohibited from possessing a handgun due to a prior felony conviction, according to the prosecutor.

In 2006, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison for shooting another man in New Haven on Oct. 4, 2004, an incident that left the victim paralyzed, Doyle said. Boyd was paroled in 2022 in connection with that case, the state's attorney said.

Doyle said his office is grateful "to the young mother who was wounded in the shooting, who, despite the significant trauma endured by her and her family, was willing to appear at trial to testify."

"Her courage and commitment to justice for herself and her family are truly commendable," he said.