Hall High School senior killed in downtown Hartford shooting while waiting for ride home

HARTFORD, CT (WFSB) - A 17-year-old was waiting for a ride home when he was shot and killed in Downtown Hartford early Sunday morning. His family says Camden Siegal wasn’t the intended target, and was simply caught in the crossfire.

Camden would have been celebrating his graduation in a few months. Instead, his family is planning his funeral.

The shooting happened around 1:49 AM, around 181 Ann Street, according to Police. That address is a building between the Dark Horse Saloon and the Lady, across from Peoples Bank Arena. The Department of Consumer Protection told Channel 3, The Lady, a Hartford bar, is under investigation after the death.

When asked what DCP is investigating, a spokesperson said, “It stems from the shooting that occurred. The department will look into all potential violations.” The spokesperson added, “Liquor Control has been in contact with the Hartford Police Department regarding the shooting. We will continue offering support to the Hartford Police Department, the lead agency in this investigation, and the City of Hartford and are prepared to take further action if requested or supported by investigative findings. Our thoughts are with the families of the victims during this horrible time.”

DCP says they also have a separate open investigation regarding the Lady. The Lady opened under new ownership in 2024.

The current owner of the Lady told us over the phone, that he is not aware of any investigations. He said he is “trying to run a good business,” and that the previous bad reputation of the bar has “nothing to do with me.”

He said he reviewed surveillance video and is “fairly certain he did not see Camden Siegal there.”

We are told Camden, a senior at Hall High School, was out with friends that night. His family says he went to get into an Uber when he was struck.

Sarah Ballard didn’t know Siegal, but works for the district.

“It’s sad because first of all, 17 is not even an adult. They haven’t lived life yet, they have no life lived,” says Ballard.

Ballard says more needs to be done to keep people safe. “Think there needs to be stricter gun laws, in my opinion,” says Ballard. Though she says, in cases like this, the ones shooting may not care about the rules.

“That’s what is scary, is that yeah you have these laws for a reason but not everyone follows them,” says Ballard. Because someone chose to break those laws, a family, and an entire community, now have broken hearts.

Although school was closed Tuesday in West Hartford, the district did make grief counselors available.

Camden’s family released a statement on his death:

Since Sunday, we’ve been asking Hartford Police if there are any suspects, or surveillance video to share in this shooting.

Their only answer? It’s an active investigation.

Channel 3 will keep asking.