Hartford Church Shooting Suspect Arraigned
HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — Joshua Smellie, 34, was arraigned Monday following his arrest related to a shooting during a funeral at Gospel Lighthouse Apostolic Church last Friday. He faces multiple charges, including first-degree assault and criminal possession of a firearm, and is being held on a $1 million bond.
Frustrated family members spoke with News 8, expressing disappointment that only Smellie is facing charges, despite claims that multiple individuals brandished weapons during the chaotic incident. One family member, mourning her mother, stated that the peaceful funeral was disrupted by the violence, saying, "It’s not fair to my mother that they came in there and did that."
During the tumultuous altercation, gunshots were fired, prompting attendees to seek shelter. Two individuals sustained non-life-threatening injuries—one from a gunshot graze and the other from a stab wound. Smellie’s public defender argued in court that the situation was chaotic and that another assailant was present.
In response to the violence, the advocacy group Mothers United Against Violence is organizing a vigil at the church on Tuesday evening, emphasizing the need for community solidarity in addressing such incidents.
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