Background: Jessiah Mercado holding her 4-month-old son, Messiah Diaz (GoFundMe). Inset: Murder suspect Lance Morales (U.S. Marshals Service).
A Massachusetts mom and her 4-month-old son were killed in what authorities are calling a “senseless and heinous” drive-by shooting in Connecticut earlier this month — leading to a manhunt by cops and U.S. Marshals, who arrested the suspect in Puerto Rico on Saturday.
Lance Benuet Morales, 23, is accused of murdering 20-year-old Jessiah Mercado and her son, Messiah Diaz, while they were driving in Hartford, Connecticut, on Nov. 19, according to the U.S. Marshals Service. Morales also allegedly shot another person, who survived, prompting charges of murder, first-degree assault, criminal possession of a firearm, criminal attempt to commit first-degree assault, and murder with special circumstances. He fled to Puerto Rico sometime between Nov. 19 and Saturday, with cops calling on him to surrender at a press conference on Wednesday, Nov. 20.
“Lance, you have no other option but to hand yourself in to the Hartford Police Department for the horrific crimes that you have done,” Hartford Interim Police Chief Kenny Howell said at the presser, according to local Fox affiliate WFXT. “You see, this hit the heart of Hartford. You’ve taken the lives of an infant and his mother. We do not tolerate this in this city.”
According to police, Mercado and Morales — nicknamed “Macho” — were “acquaintances” who had gotten into a “personal dispute over a vehicle.” Morales allegedly followed Mercado that day in his car and pulled up alongside her while she was driving in Connecticut’s capital city with two other individuals. He fired multiple gunshots at the group, with Mercado and her son being struck as they sat in the back seat, according to cops.
“Since the commission of this senseless and heinous act of violence, investigators from the Hartford Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service Violent Fugitive Task Forces in Connecticut and Puerto Rico have tirelessly worked around the clock to bring the suspect to justice,” said acting U.S. Marshal for the District of Connecticut Lawrence Bobnick in a statement Saturday. “This arrest is a testament to the close collaboration between the U.S. Marshals Service and our valued law enforcement partners and it demonstrates the reach these partnerships bring to the pursuit of justice.”
Morales was caught in the town of Fajardo, Puerto Rico, on Saturday and was awaiting extradition to Connecticut. His bond was reportedly set at $3 million.
A GoFundMe that’s been launched by Mercado’s family describes her as a “beloved daughter, mother, niece, sister and friend” whose life, along with that of her son, was “tragically cut short due to gun violence.”
“If you had the pleasure of knowing her, you know she was one of the strongest young women who did not always have life so easy,” the GoFundMe says of Mercado, who was from Springfield, Massachusetts. “Messiah brought so much joy to Jessiah and there is no doubt heaven just became even more beautiful with them both there. Jessiah is survived by many loved ones and most importantly, her older son, who was such a big part of her world. The family would appreciate any and all support to give Jessiah and Messiah a beautiful service.”
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