Southington Man Sent To Prison For Crimes Linked to 2020 Hartford Shooting: Feds

SOUTHINGTON, CT — A Southington man was sentenced Monday to more than two years in federal prison for gun and drug offenses tied to a 2020 shooting in Hartford, federal prosecutors said.

David X. Sullivan, U.S. attorney for Connecticut, said last week that Eric D. Cox, 43, received a 29-month (two years, five months) prison term followed by two years of supervised release.

The sentence was imposed by Judge Victor A. Bolden in U.S. District Court in New Haven.

According to trial evidence, the incident occurred on Sept. 4, 2020, near Hartford Hospital.

Prosecutors said Cox was involved in a violent altercation during which he was slashed with a knife.

Cox then pulled out a firearm and fired multiple shots at the person who slashed him and others nearby, Sullivan said, adding a bystander was struck multiple times.

Hartford police recovered several cartridge casings at the scene on Jefferson Street.

A hospital employee later found a discarded .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol outside the emergency department entrance and alerted authorities.

A search of Cox’s vehicle uncovered a bag containing approximately 28 grams of cocaine.

Forensic testing found Cox’s DNA on the firearm.

Cox had a prior federal conviction in 2008 for distributing crack cocaine.

A jury on Nov. 21, 2025, found Cox guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of cocaine.

Cox, who had been free on a $100,000 bond, is scheduled to report to prison on Aug. 6.

For more information on the case, click on this link.