Teen charged with murder in shooting of 3-year-old

Case of 16-year-old in connection with drive-by fatality moved to adult court

A 16-year-old arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a 3-year-old in Hartford’s North End earlier this month has had his case transferred to adult court and his charges upgraded to murder.

Tyquam Malone, the alleged driver in the April 10 drive-by, was also charged with second-degree larceny. The warrant for his arrest has been sealed for two weeks, and he’s currently being held on a $1.5 million bond.

Police initially arrested Malone on charges of accessory to murder and second-degree larceny and he appeared in juvenile court before the case was transferred Friday to Superior Court in Hartford. They said he was driving a stolen car at the time of the shooting that was later found abandoned in the city.

Jaziah Smith, 19, was arrested April 19 and charged with murder after being identified by police as the shooter in the homicide.

The drive-by, just more than two weeks ago, occurred around 2:25 p.m., near 182 Nelson St. The teens shot at a parked car that 3-year-old Randell Jones, his mother, his two sisters and a male passenger, who police said was the intended target, were seated in.

The intended target fled the scene and later was interviewed by police.

Randell was transported to a local hospital but succumbed to his injuries shortly after.

Two hours later and just blocks away, Ja’Mari Preston, 16, was killed behind a home on Magnolia Street. More than 70 shell casings were recovered at that scene. The two vehicles in connection to Ja’Mari’s murder were found burned in Hartford and South Windsor nearly a week later.

Police believe the two shootings were connected, but haven’t disclosed more information.