Springfield, Massachusetts – A Springfield man was convicted on Wednesday for the fatal shootings of a man and a woman in a commuter lot near a mall in Manchester, Connecticut. 24-year-old Gregory Crichlow was found guilty by a Superior Court jury on two counts of murder and one count of murder with special circumstances in connection with the 2020 deaths of 24-year-old Gregory Scott, Jr., and 20-year-old Jennifer Hicks, both hailing from Massachusetts.
The deadly incident occurred on August 2, 2020, when two 911 calls reported a shooting around 2 a.m. at a commuter lot near The Shoppes at Buckland Hills, known then as the Buckland Hills Mall in Manchester. Authorities determined that a gathering of about 100 vehicles had convened in the parking lot for illegal car “races” in the area at the time of the tragedy, as indicated by court records.
Witnesses disclosed crucial information to state police detectives, crucially identifying a pickup truck that approached the victims’ vehicle in the parking lot that fateful day. Court testimony recounted how Crichlow, a member of the Knox Street gang in Springfield, was purportedly embroiled in a conflict with Scott, who had alleged connections with the Sycamore Street posse. Messages exchanged between Crichlow and Scott prior to the incident unveiled a brewing animosity, with Scott allegedly expressing intent to harm Crichlow as early as April 2020.
Detectives pieced together evidence from witness statements, surveillance footage, and online interactions to build a case against Crichlow. The arrest warrant affidavit detailed how investigators linked Crichlow to the crime scene through video footage from a gas station where the suspect’s vehicle was spotted. Additional evidence pointed to social media exchanges revealing Crichlow’s search for Scott before the fatal shooting took place.
A sentencing date for Crichlow has been set for June 26 in Hartford Superior Court. The Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice commended the investigative efforts of Connecticut State Police Detective Michael Grabowski and Deputy Sheriff Dan Iozzi of the Hampden County Sheriff’s Office in bringing the case to trial successfully. The resolution of the trial marks a significant milestone in the pursuit of justice for the victims and their families following the senseless tragedy in Manchester.