Man Found Guilty Of Murder In Fatal Shooting In Meriden

MERIDEN, CT — A Waterbury man has been convicted of murder in connection with the fatal shooting of a 21-year-old man in Meriden in 2019.

Joseph Stokes, 26, was found guilty by a jury in New Haven Superior Court on June 29 of murder, criminal attempt to commit improper sale of a firearm, conspiracy to commit improper sale of a firearm, and carrying a pistol or revolver without a permit, New Haven State’s Attorney John P. Doyle Jr. announced.

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According to evidence introduced at the trial, Stokes shot Aaron Ormsby on Jan. 17, 2019, on Foster Street in Meriden, according to a news release from the Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice.

Ormsby was found unresponsive in the backyard, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken to MidState Medical Center for treatment but later died, according to officials.

Authorities located Stokes in South Carolina, where he had fled following the killing, according to officials. He was extradited to Connecticut in April 2019 and charged with murder in July 2021.

This case was investigated by the Meriden Police Department, led by Detective Sergeant John Wagner, according to the news release. Bridgeport Police, Naugatuck Police, the Connecticut State Forensic Laboratory, and the New Haven State’s Attorney’s Office all assisted in the investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney Cynthia J. Lill and Assistant State’s Attorney Danielle M. Hottin, with assistance from Inspectors Michael Mastropetre and Eric Tracy, and Office of Victim Services Advocate Christie Ciancola.

Stokes is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 21 in New Haven Superior Court.