Man Sentenced In Killing Of 15-Year-Old Hamden Student

HAMDEN, CT — Jenigh Ward, 20, was sentenced Wednesday to serve 35 years in prison for the fatal shooting of a 15-year-old Hamden High School freshman in 2022, New Haven State’s Attorney John P. Doyle Jr. announced.

Ward, of Hamden, pleaded guilty in June to one count of murder.

Ward’s conviction stems from the murder of Elijah Gomez on May 9, 2022. On that date, Hamden police responded to the Farmington Canal trail, near the area of Treadwell Street, on the report of shots fired.

Gomez, a freshman at Hamden High School, was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds and was later pronounced dead.

At sentencing, the court heard from many of Gomez’s family members who explained the immense loss they suffered, according to a news release.

Gomez’s mother, Jennifer Cathcart, addressed Ward personally at one point.

“I’m sad every day,” she said. “I’m miserable every day. You literally took my joy and my happiness from me and I can’t get that back. I want to know why.”

Crystal Cathcart, Gomez’s aunt, spoke of Gomez’s life and legacy.

“Elijah may not be with us today, but his caring nature will forever live on through his charity we created as his legacy,” she said. “When people think of Elijah or learn of his story, the script being written in his legacy is one of a person who cared for others, who was kind, compassionate and cared about peace over hate. That is our family’s mission.

“I would also like to go on the record thanking our dedicated contacts in the State’s Attorney’s office, the Victim’s Advocates Office, and, from the bottom of my heart, the Hamden Police Department. Many families don’t find this chapter closing so quickly when they experience a murder. I, and we, are grateful for the work you do.”

The fatal shooting was captured on nearby surveillance cameras and showed that Ward—along with two unidentified individuals—followed Gomez as he walked home from school, according to the news release.

“Ward shot Gomez multiple times and fled the scene,” officials wrote in the release. “He was identified by area surveillance cameras, as well as his car, clothing, and ballistic evidence recovered from his bedroom that matched the type recovered from the scene of the shooting.”

Doyle wished to “extend his gratitude to the Hamden Police Department for their investigation of this case, which remains ongoing, and his deepest condolences to the family of Elijah Gomez.”

Anyone with information related to the identities of the two unknown suspects are urged to contact the Hamden Police Department's Major Crimes Unit at 203-230-4040.