Suspect in Drive-By Shooting that Killed Mother and Baby Arrested in Puerto Rico
The suspect in a drive-by shooting in Hartford that left a 20-year-old mother and her 4-month-old son dead earlier this week has been found in Puerto Rico and has been arrested, according to police.
Shooting Incident
Officers were called to Hartford Hospital on Tuesday around 2:45 p.m. for a report of a vehicle arriving with multiple gunshot victims. In total, three people had been shot.
Victims
Authorities said 20-year-old Jessiah Mercado and her 4-month-old son, Messiah Diaz, both of Springfield, Massachusetts, were pronounced dead at the hospital. A man in his 20s was also injured in the shooting. His injuries were described as non-life threatening.
Investigation
Investigators said all three people were shot while in a vehicle on New Britain Avenue after another vehicle pulled up and open fire.
Suspect Identification and Arrest
After the shooting, police said 23-year-old Lance Morales was identified as a suspect and U.S. Marshals said they learned he had fled to Puerto Rico.
On Saturday, he was found by the U.S. Marshals Violent Fugitive Task Force at a home in Fajardo in Puerto Rico and was taken into custody. He was formally charged as a fugitive from justice and is being held on a $3 million bond while awaiting extradition.
Community Reaction
“It’s a horrible tragedy and as a dad, I can’t stop thinking about that baby who lost their life. It’s just heartbreaking. It’s devastating. It should never happen,” Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam said.
Charges
In Connecticut, Morales is expected to be charged with murder with special circumstances, murder, assault, criminal attempt to commit assault and criminal possession of a firearm.
Conclusion
The arrest of Lance Morales brings a sense of closure to the community, but it can never bring back the lives of Jessiah Mercado and her 4-month-old son, Messiah Diaz. The investigation is ongoing, and Morales will face the charges in Connecticut.
