CT authorities offering $50K reward to help solve 2020 shooting that left father of six dead

A $50,000 reward is being offered to help solve a shooting on Interstate 95 in 2020 that left a father of six dead.

Jawara Stennett had just attended his father’s 60th birthday party in Connecticut when he was gunned down on his way back to Brooklyn, New York, on Aug. 2, 2020, according to the Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice.

Officials said Stennett, who was 39 years old, was fatally shot on the Exit 43 on-ramp to I-95 in West Haven around 10 p.m. Responding state police troopers found him suffering from gunshot wounds to his torso before he was pronounced dead. His death was later ruled a homicide.

At a news conference Thursday at the Troop G state police barracks in Bridgeport, officials said “exhaustive investigative efforts” by state police have not led to any solid leads in the case. As a result, Gov. Ned Lamont has authorized a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killer or killers responsible for Stennett’s death, Ansonia/Milford State’s Attorney Margaret E. Kelley announced.

“Detectives from the Connecticut State Police Western District Major Crime Squad have been diligently working on this case for four years,” Detective Sgt. Michael Beauton said in a statement. “Now, we are requesting help from the public in an effort to identify Mr. Stennett’s killer and bring justice to the Stennett family.”

Authorities said they are specifically looking to speak with the driver of a white Lexus GX 460 sport utility vehicle with Connecticut license plates that was spotted on video surveillance heading north on Campbell Avenue near I-95 around 10 p.m. the night of the murder.

“Mr. Stennett’s family deserves to know what happened to their father, son, brother and loved one,” Kelley said in a statement. “Now, we are asking for the public’s help in giving them an answer.

“We know that there are individuals with information pertaining to this investigation who have yet to come forward,” she added. “Even if you have information that you don’t think is particularly useful, please share it with us so we can put it into the larger context of the entire investigation. Any information is useful in trying to piece this puzzle together.”

A GoFundMe started by Stennett’s family referred to him as a “devoted son, husband, father and friend” who loved his family.

“He was a multi-talented individual who loved to sing, write and create art in any form,” his family wrote. “He was a man of few words but knew just how to add a smile to everyone’s face.”

According to the GoFundMe, Stennett’s family believes he was killed during an “unprovoked shooting.”

“This was an egregious callous act of violence that took place,” his family wrote.

At the time of his death, Stennett was a father to six children between the ages of 1 and 20, the fundraiser states.

Anyone with information on the case has been asked to contact Beauton at michael.beauton@ct.gov; Det. Maxwell Robins at 860-805-3167 or maxwell.robins@ct.gov; or Division of Criminal Justice Inspector Herbert Johnson at 203-687-6816 or herbert.johnson@ct.gov.