Bridgeport Teen Found Not Guilty of Murder

Bridgeport – A city teenager was found not guilty Tuesday of fatally shooting a man and wounding his female companion in 1998.

A Superior Court jury deliberated several hours before finding Darnell Bush, 19, of Hanover Street, not guilty of murder and first-degree assault.

“This is certainly a satisfying outcome for me and my client,” said defense lawyer Wayne Keeney.

In the early-morning hours of Aug 13, 1998. Warren Hopkins, 32, of Palisades Ave, was found shot to death in a car on Ridge Ave. Police said his body was riddled with bullets.

A 17-year-old New Haven woman, who fled from the car during the onslaught, suffered a shoulder wound. She told police that three or four people had fired at the car, but was unable to identify the shooter because she said the assailants were wearing masks.

Two witnesses who previously told police that Bush was one of the shooters became less sure when they took the witness stand.

Keeney then presented a witness who claimed to have seen that fatal attack, but said Bush was not one of the shooters.