03/16/2026
GUNFIRE IN THE EARLY MORNING. A TEENAGER’S LIFE CUT SHORT. A FAMILY STILL WAITING FOR JUSTICE.
THE MURDER OF JHAVARE SMITH
New Haven, Connecticut | June 15, 2025
The loved ones of Jhavare Smith reached out to The Vivid Faces of the Vanished in hopes that sharing his story will bring renewed attention to the case and help lead investigators to the truth.
Jhavare was only 18 years old.
He was from Stratford, Connecticut, a young man with a future that had barely begun. To the people who loved him, he was more than a headline or a statistic. He was a son, a friend, and someone whose life mattered deeply to his family and community.
In the early morning hours of June 15, 2025, violence erupted in New Haven.
At approximately 2:47 a.m., police responded to reports of gunfire near the intersection of Tilton Street and Mansfield Street. When officers arrived, they found Jhavare lying on the sidewalk suffering from gunshot wounds.
He was rushed to Yale New Haven Hospital, where doctors tried to save his life. Despite their efforts, Jhavare died from his injuries.
Investigators later recovered shell casings and live ammunition from two different calibers at the scene. That evidence suggested the possibility that more than one shooter was involved or that there may have been an exchange of gunfire.
Authorities also reported that an after-hours gathering or party was taking place in the area at the time of the shooting.
For Jhavare’s family, the loss has been devastating. A young life that should have been filled with opportunity and milestones ended in the darkness of a city street.
As of early 2026, Jhavare’s killing remains unsolved. While New Haven police have made arrests in several other homicide cases from 2025, no public arrests have been announced in connection with Jhavare Smith’s murder.
His loved ones continue to carry the grief and the unanswered questions.
Someone saw what happened.
Someone knows who pulled the trigger.
If you have any information regarding the murder of Jhavare Smith, please contact the New Haven Police Department:
Detectives: 203-946-6304
Anonymous Tip Line: 866-888-TIPS (8477)
Even the smallest piece of information could help bring answers to the people who loved him.
© The Vivid Faces of the Vanished.
