Third Hamden Man Charged with 2010 Shooting

A third man has been arrested in connection with a July 2010 shooting that left the victim seriously injured.

Marquis Harper, 22, of 37 Duane Road, Hamden, was charged Dec. 28 with conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery and criminal attempt to commit first-degree robbery.

Harper was arrested in connection with the July 2, 2010 shooting of John Belcher, who was 25 at the time. In the early morning of that day, Hamden Police responded to his Elliot Drive home on the report of a shooting, according to police spokesman Capt. Ronald Smith.

Officers found Belcher lying face down in the driveway with gunshot wounds to the chest and neck, Smith said. Belcher was hospitalized with serious life-threatening injuries, he said.

"A preliminary investigation that was conducted at the time revealed that Belcher was confrontedby three individuals who were wearing face masks. Witnesses believed that at least two of theindividuals were in the possession of handguns," Smith said. "In addition, they believed that several gunshots were fired."

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Detective Angelo DeLieto has worked on the investigation since that recently led to an arrest warrant application to the court for Marquis Harper, Smith said. On Friday detectives arrested Harper at a New Haven location, he said.

Harper was held in lieu of $150,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Meriden Superior Court on Jan. 11.

of 28 Fawn Ridge Rd., Hamden, charging him with first-degree assault and criminal attempt to commit first-degree assault.

A month later, Kevin Blackman, 23, whose last known address is 2671 Dixwell Ave., Hamden, also was charged with first-degree assault and conspiracy to commit first-degree assault. He was arrested at Meriden Superior Court, where he was appearing in connection with an unrelated case.