Conard Student Charged with Shooting in Elmwood

2:22 p.m. UPDATE: Police have charged a 17-year-old student with a rare shooting in the Elmwood section of West Hartford Tuesday afternoon, and four other students have been charged in the incident as well. The shooting victim, 19-year-old Wilfredo Texidor, remains in critical condition at Hartford Hospital with a bullet wound to the neck.

Police said they received a call just before 4 p.m. Tuesday afternoon for a disturbance at 113 Abbotsford Ave., which is one block from the Hartford line. Minutes later, the call was upgraded to a "shots fired" alert.

According to Capt. Joseph Lasata, the incident appears to be related to "a simmering dispute over a female" who was also a Conard student. Five male students, including one who had asked the girl out repeatedly, were causing a disturbance outside her house, Lasata said.

A male relative of the female student came outside to "quell some issues," police said in a news release. Once the man came outside, a group of at least five males surrounded him, police said, and the shooter produced a handgun. Police said witnesses told them the shooter was eating a piece of pound cake as he pulled the trigger, hitting the victim in the neck.

The suspects fled the scene, and three were arrested immediately. The shooter was located on Wilson Street in Hartford a short time later, police said, and the fifth suspect was arrested at his home. Police said they recovered the gun used in the shooting.

Lasata said the female Conard student's family has characterized the behavior of the shooter, whose repeated requests for a date had been rejected, as "bullying."

"The guy asked a girl if she'd like to go out and she refused and he was persistent," Lasata said. "Is that bullying? I guess it could be."

Tom Moore, assistant superintendent for administration, said the school was not made aware of any bullying behavior. "Prior to yesterday, there had not been any reports of bullying made regarding that girl and any of our students," he said.

Moore also said: "Obviously we're horrified by this and the safety of our students is our No. 1 priority."

The shooter and one other student have not been named because they are not yet 18. The shooter has been charged with criminal attempt at murder, assault in the first-degree, carrying a gun without a permit, unlawful use of a firearm, and illegal possession of marijuana.

The other students charged are: Justin Reyes, 18, of 156 Dart St., Hartford; Andre Cook, 18, 62 S. Quaker Lane, 2nd floor; and Marcus Stevens, 18, 91 Red Top Dr. All of those students, as well as the other unidentified student, have been charged with conspiracy to commit assault in the first degree and are being held on $250,000 bond each.

The last shooting incident in West Hartford took place in 2009 when shots were fired during a baby shower in a rented hall on Oakwood Avenue. Four people were injured in the melee.