Vernon Man Charged With Murder In 2017 Killing In Hartford: Police

HARTFORD, CT — Hartford police Monday announced a murder charge for a Vernon man accused of shooting and killing a Hartford resident in 2017.

According to the Hartford Police Department, the suspect has been identified as Rakeem Grant, 37, of 1085 Hartford Turnpike, Vernon.

He has been charged with murder and is being held on a $2 million bond, police said.

Grant is charged with killing Hartford resident Stephen Payne, 26, back in March 2017 in the city, police said.

According to the HPD, which announced the arrest on Monday afternoon, on Wednesday, March 8, 2017, at approximately 9:16 p.m., officers were dispatched to 2441 Main St. on a ShotSpotter activation and 911 calls reporting gunfire.

"Upon arrival, officers were directed to the area of 45 Alan Green Way, where a male with apparent gunshot wounds was located. The victim was unresponsive and subsequently pronounced deceased at the scene," wrote the HPD.

Patrol officers secured the crime scene, and the Major Crimes and Crime Scene Divisions responded and assumed control of the investigation.

After a lengthy investigation, an arrest warrant charging Grant with one count of murder was obtained in December 2025.

Grant was located and safely taken into custody by members of the Hartford Police Violent Crime Unit and the U.S. Marshals Violent Fugitive Task Force on Monday, Jan. 5, police said.

For information on the case, click on this link.