Bridgeport Man Charged In Connection With Stamford Stabbing Death: SPD

BRIDGEPORT, CT — Police said a 32-year-old Bridgeport man has been charged with murder in connection with the August 2021 stabbing death of a 43-year-old man in Stamford.

Donald Copeland was extradited from Dutchess County Jail in New York back to Stamford, where he was charged with murder on Monday, police said in a news release. He was additionally charged with possession of a controlled substance, and given a total bond of $2.5 million.

Copeland was initially arrested in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. on Feb. 18 and charged with being a fugitive from justice, police said. He was waiting to be extradited.

On Aug. 18, 2021 around 1 a.m., police responded to a serious car crash on Hamilton Avenue on Stamford's East Side, police said.

Officers found the driver — later identified as Jimmy Louis — who had multiple stab wounds to his upper body, police said. Officers tried to resuscitate Louis, and he was transported to Stamford Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Police said Louis did not have a listed address at the time, but had family in Stamford. He had lived in Stamford, Norwalk and Bridgeport in the past.

Investigators backtracked Louis' whereabouts and found what they believed was a stabbing scene in the 150 block of Culloden Road, police said.

Using a variety of investigative methods — including forensics such as blood evidence, DNA and fingerprints — the SPD identified Copeland as a suspect and developed an arrest warrant several weeks after the stabbing, according to police, but Copeland fled the area.

Police said Copeland was tracked with the help of the U.S. Marshals to Poughkeepsie, N.Y. ahead of his arrest in February.

"Stamford PD would like to thank the US Marshal Service for their continuous support and assistance throughout the investigation," Stamford police said in a news release Tuesday morning.

"In addition, the department would like to acknowledge the work of major crime investigators Sgt. Sean Boeger, Investigator Lou Serna, Investigator Frank Laconna, Investigator Dan Musso and Assistant State’s Attorney Dan Cummings for their collective efforts."