CT man extradited from Maryland after fatal 2020 New Haven shooting found guilty of murder

A jury has convicted a man in connection with a fatal shooting in New Haven in 2020.

The jury returned a guilty verdict Wednesday in New Haven Superior Court against 49-year-old Rashad Hardy of New Haven on charges of murder and carrying a pistol without a permit, according to the Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice .

Criminal justice officials said the charges stemmed from the shooting of 36-year-old Ricky Newton of New Haven at a corner store on Rosette Street shortly before 5 p.m. on July 10, 2020. Newton was taken to the hospital following the shooting where he was pronounced dead.

Hardy was taken into custody two weeks after the shooting when authorities in Princess Anne, Maryland, while executing a search warrant in an unrelated matter, found him living in a group home, according to officials. He was later extradited to Connecticut to face charges in the slaying.

According to criminal justice officials, Hardy was also convicted of an unrelated criminal possession of a firearm charge following a separate proceeding that was tried before the court.

The case was prosecuted by New Haven Assistant State’s Attorney Melissa R. Holmes and Deputy Assistant State’s Attorney Thomas J. Finnucan, who were assisted by inspectors Sean Faughnan and Michael Mastropetre, officials said.

Hardy is scheduled to face sentencing on Nov. 25.