Man Charged With Murdering 2 People In Hamden: Feds

HAMDEN, CT — A North Carolina man has been charged with murdering two people in Hamden, and later killing a third person in New Haven, more than four years ago. A federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment Monday charging Edward Michael Parks, also known as “Lee” and “Trouble,” 33, with kidnapping and murdering two men in Hamden and then killing another person in New Haven to stop him from telling police what happened, authorities announced.

On Nov. 16, 2015, Parks was in an apartment on Shelton Avenue in New Haven to sell illegal guns, according to authorities. Damian Connor and Tamar Lawrence were in the apartment at the time.

“When another individual left the apartment with firearms that he had not paid for, Parks, who was armed, held Connor and Lawrence against their will,” according to a press release from the U.S. States Attorney’s office. “Parks collected money and valuables from Connor and Lawrence, and then forced them to travel in Connor’s car to Hamden where Connor said he could get more money. They were followed in another vehicle by Devante Williams and another individual. After the vehicles arrived at 676 Mix Avenue in Hamden, Parks shot and killed Connor and Lawrence. Parks then left the scene with Williams and others in the second vehicle and returned to New Haven.

“It is further alleged that, when Parks appeared to believe that Williams was anxious about the murders of Connor and Lawrence, Parks shot and killed Williams in the area of Sherman Court in New Haven.”

Connor was 23 years old and Lawrence was 19.

“This prosecution represents a tragic example of how lives can be ruined when firearms are illegally possessed and traded,” U.S. States Attorney for Connecticut John H. Durham said in a statement. “I thank our partners in the FBI, Hamden Police Department, New Haven Police Department and New Haven State’s Attorney’s Office for their collaborative work in bringing to justice an individual we allege to be responsible for three cold-blooded killings.”

The indictment charges Parks with two counts of kidnapping resulting in death, and one count of witness tampering by killing. If convicted, Parks faces a maximum term of imprisonment of life, or death if the government seeks the death penalty in this matter, according to officials.

“I would like to thank the families of the victims for their patience and trust,” Hamden Police Chief John Cappiello said. “I hope this indictment gives them some sense of peace and closure. I would also like to thank New Haven Detective Sergeant Bertram Ettienne, Hamden Detective Jomo Crawford, the FBI Safe Street Violent Task Force and the Offices of the U.S. Attorney and New Haven State’s Attorney. This case demonstrates that by working together we were able to get a violent individual off the streets.”

Parks is currently incarcerated in federal custody following an unrelated conviction for drug and firearm offenses in the Eastern District of North Carolina.

“Today, after four years of an in-depth homicide investigation, the New Haven Police Department and our law enforcement partners are able to bring justice to the family of Devante Williams,” New Haven Assistant Chief Karl Jacobson said. “We would like to extend a special thank you to the Williams family for their patience and understanding while investigators worked diligently to make this day a reality. We would also like to thank our law enforcement partners, the New Haven Police homicide detectives, Hamden Police homicide detectives, U.S Attorney’s Office, New Haven State’s Attorney’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Correction as justice would not have prevailed without them.”