Meriden Man Charged In 2020 Murder: Police

MERIDEN, CT — A man was charged with murder in connection to a 2020 homicide, according to a police statement. Justin Coombs, 25, was charged with murder and criminal liability for acts of another. He was held on $1,000,000 bond.

Police received calls reporting a shooting victim at the intersection of Olive Street and Crown Street on Aug. 19, 2020 at 7:43 p.m. Police found the victim, Sammy Ortiz Jr., suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported to MidState Medical Center where he later died due to his injuries.

Police investigation and were granted a warrant for Coombs's arrest Thursday. Coombs was already in the custody of the Department of Corrections for several previous arrests in Meriden, according to police. These pending cases include first-degree robbery, theft of a firearm, carrying a pistol without a permit, and criminal possession of a firearm.