Connecticut Violent Fugitive Captured in New York

Hartford, CT - The U.S. Marshals New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force on April 17 apprehended in Brooklyn a Connecticut man wanted on multiple charges following a shooting incident in Hartford in February.

Dakwan Nelson, 19, is accused of shooting his girlfriend in the chest during a domestic dispute February 26 in the area of Wethersfield Avenue. The Hartford Police Department attempted to locate Nelson but his whereabouts were unknown following the incident.

The assistance of the Connecticut U.S. Marshal Violent Fugitive Task Force was requested in locating and apprehending Nelson. During the investigation, the Fugitive Task Force and the Hartford Police Department developed information that Nelson was in New York and sent a lead to the NY/NJRFTF.

U.S. Marshals located Nelson in Brooklyn and attempted to apprehend him while he was walking, but he ran when he saw them.  After a brief chase, the task force apprehended Nelson in the 300 block of Saratoga Avenue.

Nelson is pending extradition back to Connecticut where he will be facing the charges of criminal attempt to commit murder, assault in the first degree, carrying a pistol without a permit, unlawful discharge of a firearm, and reckless endangerment in the first degree. 

Nelson is currently being housed by the New York City Department of Corrections. 

Since the inception of the U.S. Marshals – Connecticut Violent Fugitive Task Force in 1999, these partnerships have resulted in over 11,046 arrests (Updated as of 9/08/2022). The task force’s objective is to seek out and arrest violent fugitives and sexual predators. Membership agencies include Hartford, New Haven, Bridgeport, Norwalk, Waterbury Police Departments and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. These arrests have ranged in seriousness from murder, assault, unregistered sex offenders, probation and parole violations and numerous other serious offenses. Nationally the United States Marshals Service fugitive programs are carried out with local law enforcement in 94 district offices, 85 local fugitive task forces, eight regional task forces, as well as a growing network of offices in foreign countries.