Jayzon Gunter, a 19-year-old from Hartford, Connecticut, received an eight-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to attempted first-degree assault and attempted third-degree strangulation in the September 2024 shooting of his 16-year-old girlfriend. The charges stemmed from a domestic dispute and were reduced from attempted murder through a plea deal. He must also complete three years of probation, with an additional 12 years in prison possible for violations.
Incident Details
The attack occurred after an argument over a phone call the victim made to Gunter’s “baby mama,” during which she was FaceTiming a friend who recorded Gunter holding a gun to her head and firing a single shot. A witness reported hearing a loud bang and finding the victim bleeding from her head, spitting, and vomiting blood; another described Gunter attempting to strangle her with a phone cord beforehand. The victim was placed in a medically induced coma and later identified Gunter by name and his alias “Rich Rack” to hospital staff.
Arrest and Plea
Police arrested Gunter at another residence on an unrelated warrant shortly after the incident; he admitted being present but denied involvement, claiming he only heard a shot. Initial charges included attempted murder, illegal firearm discharge, and carrying a pistol without a permit, but he entered the plea in Hartford Superior Court, leading to sentencing on or around January 5, 2026. Court records confirm the 20-year sentence was suspended after eight years served.
