CT Man Charged in Drive-By Shooting Over $400 Debt
A man is accused of killing a mother and her baby in Hartford over a $400 debt, leading to serious charges against him.
Hartford, Connecticut, Lance Morales, Jessiah Mercado, Messiah Diaz, Drive-By Shooting
Hartford: A tragic incident unfolded when a man allegedly shot and killed a mother and her 4-month-old baby. This happened over a $400 debt, which is just heartbreaking.
The suspect, Lance Morales, 23, was extradited back to Connecticut after being caught in Puerto Rico. He faced a tense arraignment in Hartford, where emotions ran high.
According to the police affidavit, Morales opened fire on Jessiah Mercado and her baby, Messiah Diaz, while they were in a car with two others. It all started after a dispute over a rental car.
Witnesses say that after leaving a store, they noticed Morales in a white Infiniti trying to block their car. When Mercado rolled down her window to talk, she told him she had her baby in the car. But Morales reportedly didn’t care and started shooting.
Both Mercado and her baby were hit and sadly pronounced dead at the hospital. The driver and another passenger were also injured but survived.
Morales fled the scene but was later arrested. He’s facing serious charges, including two counts of murder. The court has set his bond at a whopping $5 million, and if he gets out, he’ll be under strict supervision.
During the hearing, a family member of the victims shouted at Morales, expressing their anger and grief. It’s a tough situation for everyone involved, and the community is still reeling from this senseless act of violence.