She was bleeding heavy, bro. >> Harford, please. >> Drinking and smoking. >> Potential suspect is the exploration. >> Thursday, May 21st, 2020. Hartford, Connecticut. In a residential building on Sherman Street, what seemed like an ordinary afternoon turned into the beginning of an investigation that would leave a mark on the entire community. A 911 call reported an attack inside an apartment. [music] But behind that alert was something much more complex. a relationship conflict that had been building for some time. From that moment on, the responding officers would face not only a violent crime, but also the traces of an intimate pattern of abuse that was about to [music] be exposed. I'm Tyler, and this is your daily dose of crime. We see you watching, but only about 11% of you are subscribed to the channel. So, if you enjoy this video, make sure to hit subscribe and ring that bell so that we can reach more people. and you can keep getting your daily dose of crime. As always, thanks for being here. >> I live right here. >> My phone died. >> Where do you guys have the victim? 40. Follow one of us. Follow the other. >> She was bleeding heavy, bro. >> Yeah, we'll follow her. And then 26 is going to follow the other one. >> We're going to we're going to follow her to the to the hospital. >> Ready to head out with them when I get off. All right. Just her. >> Yeah, we're going to follow her. >> Uh, we're probably blocked in. >> Yeah. Well, we probably won't get out. We'll back out the other way or whatever. >> We'll just wait for them to leave. In the first minutes after police arrived, the information circulating amongst the officers already reflected the seriousness of the case. The injured woman identified Troy Hayes as the perpetrator, confirming that the assault was tied to a relationship that had ended long before. What's not seen on camera is that Hayes carried an extensive criminal record and a documented history of violent conduct. Traits that in Hartford fit a familiar pattern. Ex partners unwilling to accept separation and willing to cross dangerous boundaries. For investigators, the urgency was not only to aid the victims, but to recognize they were facing a domestic violence case with a fatal outcome and a suspect accustomed to defying the law. in to search the apartment. >> Did you go in the apartment? >> We No one went upstairs. No. >> Okay. You want to run through it with me? >> Yeah. >> Once they Once they get him out, >> I believe they're coming off me first. >> Might want to check a back door. >> I don't know. Yeah. She's saying he she's saying he no one ever went upstairs. But >> they live here. Both of them. >> Yeah. She's saying that she does. She's saying he once it happened, he ran out. That's like her boyfriend or whatever. They were drinking and smoking and >> and then whatever happened with the other guy, she he that happened and then he >> ran to the scooter or something. Yeah. Can >> you get through on the backside? >> Yeah, I just checked the whole back. What do we got, guys? >> What's that? Who we got? >> So, he's uh they're not looking good and then she got in the hand and then somewhere else. She said their friends dating, whatever. Um came in. They were here smoking, drinking. >> That's all I got as of right now. >> What's that? coming right now. >> Yeah, it looks like it's probably going to be not like she's just like disoriented. She's >> 1439 143 49. >> Hey, give me a light223 23. >> Did you get her name? >> No, I I dealt with her before. Her boyfriend called her ex-boyfriend called FD like a couple months ago to come get his and um we came here. He got a I documented it. That was the end of it. 27 new man probably 47. So it's potential suspect is the ex-boyfriend. >> Yep. I asked her. I said, "Remember that guy that came here to get your his stuff? Was he part of this?" She said, "Yeah." So >> he drives a red and black moped. >> No, he wasn't. He came with his uncle last time in a car. This guy's saying the guy in the red and black moped was the one that went northbound towards but he didn't get a good >> they took him. >> Yeah. CSD one. >> I think that goes to the that apartment. >> Oh yeah. Harford for place. Harford place. >> Harford police. >> Kitchen's clear. Go upstairs. >> No, I'm just going to check this. [music] Got a phone upstairs. [music] >> [music] >> As paramedics prepared to remove the body of Deshawn Copeland, officers began piecing together how the attack had unfolded. Several witnesses had already reported Hayes fleeing on a red scooter, a detail that quickly became crucial for confirming his movements and placing him at the scene. What's not captured on camera is that the same residents had previously appeared in police reports for incidents involving him, reinforcing the idea of ongoing harassment toward his former partner. In those early moments, the investigation advanced with two certainties. The violence had not been spontaneous and the suspect's profile indicated a higher degree of danger. >> Yeah, I'll just get that from for my partner real quick. All right, >> one more time, please. Just save this. >> MCD control one MCD control. >> All right. You need any information on the lady or anything? >> 26. >> I'll get all that from my cruise. >> All right. I just wanted to give you the lady's going with 926. >> 926. >> Yep. >> Okay. >> 9 uh 12. >> Mhm. with two medics on there from uh 24 and 12 going to St. Pan with the other guy. >> Okay, sounds good. >> I was car nine. So, >> car nine. >> Yeah. >> All right, supervisor >> covered. Y >> sounds good. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, sir. >> All right. I got her name. I got the ex-boyfriend's name >> here. All right. I got his I got her name and I have the the ex-boyfriend's name. >> Definitely have to do something about that. >> Yeah, that's what I'm saying. >> Apartment's cleared >> cuz I'm like, "Yo, do you remember me?" She was like, "Yeah, honey. What happened?" Like, this lady is like out of it, >> dude. She lost a ton of blood that a lot of this blood out here hurt. >> Yeah. >> Did you see the apartment inside? >> Crazy. I'm going to go upstairs here. >> We just cleared. >> You don't No, you don't want to go up there. You're going all over your shoes. >> It's already on my shoes. I was walking in there already. >> Yeah. Did you decon with fire? Cuz you were like holding her and >> Yeah, I decid. >> Yep. >> This dude's phone became training. How long ago was this? Do you know if that's our current phone number? Should be on there. >> I know. Do you know if it's current? >> Her phone number. It should be. >> Look at the date on the top. >> No. Sure. >> Yeah. >> Is this Troy Higgins the ex? >> Yeah. >> No, it's Troy Hayes. >> He's the ex-boyfriend. >> I'm going to go run his license. >> See if everything's the same. 271 X and she said he was here. I I was like, "Remember when I was here?" I said, "Does our guy that we came here with to get his stuff, is he part of this?" She said, "Yeah." So, she nodded her head. So, but she's disoriented about a lot. So, I'm going to ask I'll double check with her. >> Who else is in there now? Nobody >> inside the apartment. >> Yeah. >> Nobody. >> Okay. >> The doors locked from the inside. >> Yes, sir. >> What's the case number? 14349. 143. >> As officers gathered evidence, the injured woman's statement proved decisive. [music] With a single gesture, she confirmed Hayes had been in the apartment just before the attack. That signal erased doubts and solidified the investigative path. What is not seen on camera is the emotional toll of reliving the assault [music] in the midst of physical trauma, a reality faced by many domestic violence survivors who have to provide information despite their vulnerability. At the same time, police began canvasing nearby businesses for security cameras, aware that visual evidence would be essential to strengthen the case. The combination of technical proof and the survivor's account was emerging as the foundation for charges of murder and firstdegree assault. >> Your cameras, your cameras working outside, cameras. Yeah. >> Can I Can I watch them? >> But I don't know how to operate them. >> I'll try to mess around with them if you don't mind. Yeah. >> So, they do work. >> Okay. I appreciate it. >> Were they back here? Right here. >> How long do they record for? How long does the store for? 7 days, 10 days, uh 30? >> Uh I am I really don't have >> I can call call and ask him if >> Could you if you don't mind? Cuz the thing is we had a guy do something pretty crazy down the street here. >> I can't tell you what he did, but he did something pretty pretty whack. >> And we got to get the camera footage. >> Yeah. Uh, see if he is coming. >> Yeah, if he answers, I appreciate it. You know, let me see. I'm not too good with this technology stuff, but let's see what I can do here. >> How long does it say? Can I talk to him? Yeah, if you don't mind. Hello. >> Hey, how are you? It's officer last Harford police. Officer last. Hey, B. Sorry to bother you so late, but so listen, we had something pretty crazy happen up the street. I can't give you specifics on it, but it was something something that we need to get like the camera footage that you got over here. >> Is there >> uh the parking lot where all the pumps are >> at 289? He's heading over to 141. >> So, how long does it save for? call the male and female party. >> Yeah, it just h it just happened tonight at around like 11 1120ish. >> Yeah, I'm in here. >> Yeah. Yep. I'm looking at it right now, but it's saying I have to put a pattern in. here. >> Actually, you guys get another 42. They'll party down the ground rolling around. >> Uh, >> it says draw a pattern first. Do you do I have to do that right down >> like that? >> That's it. >> Awesome. And then to do the pay to do the playback, if I want to go back to like 11, like uh hold on, what time did I have to go back? I have to go back to 207 >> 10:50. >> So if I click here, >> please. >> So if I want to watch this, right, >> I I can click this, right? Like this >> and then this I can change the time. Is it instant playback I have to hit? >> Yeah. >> Okay. And then I can go this bar comes up. >> Normal camera. >> Just a camera right here where it says camera. >> No, no, no, no. Keep going. Keep going down your left. >> Playback. >> Yeah. Play back. Oh, normal. Okay. >> Awesome. >> Yeah. Then this screen comes up. >> Okay. Click the camera number two. Select the camera. >> Oh, and I can pick the date and everything. Huh? >> The date is already >> It's not the 22nd anymore, right? >> Yeah. >> Officer. At this stage, the investigation reached a turning point. Cameras at a nearby convenience store captured Hayes in the area on his red scooter. A crucial step in linking him to the crime scene without relying solely on testimony. What's not seen on camera is the strategic weight of that evidence. In a jury trial, technological proof not only supports witness statements, but narrows the margin for doubt. The attack also reflected a recurring psychological pattern in domestic violence. the inability to accept a breakup and the use of humiliation as a prelude to violence. Pouring wine over Desawn before stabbing him was not an impulsive action, but a calculated form of degration. From a clinical perspective, that behavior revealed a possessive and controlling profile where the loss of dominance translated into lethal aggression. >> Thing's not registered. >> The bike's not registered, right? >> All right, we're good. And this is confirm this is the party from the 89 I believe Troy Haynes. I'm just going to confirm that on the second >> 62 1130. Where'd you get the bike from? and 8 >> 1060. I'm sorry. I don't think I uh went online yet, but I'm sure 99. >> Yeah, we put you on already. >> Thank you. I'm sorry. >> I'm going to check them in in a second. You have any weapons or anything, sir? >> No. And what you say your first name was >> any weapons in the bike you got to worry about? >> No. >> That bike's not falling, right? >> No. >> Grab the bin on that thing. >> It's usually up here. >> Yeah. On the forks. You said that's not right. >> You see the bus behind you all stop sign and stuff there. They went through the red light, man. That's why they, you know, weren't sure if you're trying to take off or what, man. >> Right in South Chapel there. >> Before we approach the construction zone 12484 trying to run or what? If you're trying to run or what the stop lights and stuff, right? Right. When Hayes was intercepted, officers asked him whether he was armed or attempting to flee. But what's not captured on camera is that for police, that moment represented more than a routine stop. It signified closing an investigative circle that had begun with a desperate 911 call and now ended with a suspect in custody. Behaviorally, his short, evasive responses fit a minimization mechanism common amongst repeat offenders who attempt to downplay their actions even when faced with direct evidence. That posture, however, stood in contrast to the strength of the case. Witnesses, video recordings, and the survivor's statement combined to form an investigation solid enough to sustain the charges. You're clear. >> 510. Do you have any CSD on >> any CSD? CSD. CST. >> 546 for CSD. H I C Y. >> Do you have a license? >> ID card. >> What's your phone number? I don't have one license 69 69. The arrest marked only the beginning of a judicial process that would stretch out over three years. The consistency of the evidence, the survivor's testimony, eyewitness accounts, and footage showing Hayes on his red scooter, all allowed prosecutors to pursue the most serious of charges. In September of 2023, a Hartford jury found Hayes guilty of murder and first-degree assault. Months later, Judge Kevin C. Doyle sentenced him to 55 years in prison, a term that in practice amounts to a life sentence. What is not seen on camera is the more broad impact, the loss of Deshawn Copelan, remembered as a devoted father and dedicated worker, and the resilience of the surviving victim whose courage to testify provided decisive in securing justice. The case became a stark reminder of how intimate partner violence can spill beyond private boundaries and underscored the urgency of prevention, victim support, and early intervention to prevent such tragedies.