Teen Arrested in Murder of Former Bullard‑Havens Star
A 17‑year‑old resident of Bridgeport was taken into custody on Tuesday and formally charged with murder in the shooting that claimed the life of Leon Richardson, an 18‑year‑old who had starred on the basketball court for Bullard‑Havens Technical High School.
Authorities say Richardson was found with multiple gunshot wounds inside a vehicle on Catherine Street around 6:45 p.m. on July 27. He was pronounced dead at the scene, and investigators have linked the incident to the nearby Greene Homes public housing complex.
The case automatically triggers a transfer to adult court, meaning a judge will set a bond and the teenager will face the same penalties as an adult. His identity and any photographic record have been withheld pending further legal steps.
A funeral service held on August 11 drew friends, family and members of the local community, who remembered Richardson as a “larger‑than‑life” presence. A community organization issued a statement highlighting his energy and the void his loss leaves in the neighborhood.
The killing marks the fifth homicide reported in Bridgeport this year, following another fatal shooting in the P.T. Barnum housing complex on August 9. City officials have not yet released a comprehensive plan to curb the surge in gun violence.