‘Horrifying’ murders of mother and son lead to manhunt and arrest

In the background: Jessia Mercado holds her 4-month-old son Messiah Diaz (GoFundMe). Inset: Murder suspect Lance Morales (US Marshals Service).

A Massachusetts mom and her 4-month-old son were killed in what authorities call a “senseless and disgusting” drive-by shooting in Connecticut earlier this month, leading to a manhunt by police and U.S. marshals who arrested the suspect in Puerto. Rico on Saturday.

Lance Benuet Morales, 23, is accused of killing Jessia Mercado, 20, and her son Messiah Diaz as they drove in Hartford, Connecticut, on November 19, according to the U.S. Marshals Service. Morales also allegedly shot another man, who survived, resulting in 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 November 19 and Saturday, and police urged him to turn himself in at a press conference on Wednesday, November 20.

“Lance, you have no choice but to turn yourself in to the Hartford Police Department for the terrible crimes you have committed,” Interim Hartford Police Chief Kenny Howell said at a news conference, according to local Fox affiliate WFXT. “You see, it struck the heart of Hartford. You took the lives of a baby and his mother. We don’t tolerate that in this city.”

According to police, Mercado and “Macho” Morales were “acquaintances” who got into a “personal dispute over a vehicle.” That day, Morales allegedly followed Mercado in his car and stopped next to her as she drove through the Connecticut capital with two other people. He fired several shots into the group, injuring Mercado and her son as they sat in the back seat, police said.

“Since this senseless and heinous act of violence, investigators with the Hartford Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Forces in Connecticut and Puerto Rico have worked tirelessly around the clock to bring the suspect to justice,” Acting U.S. said. Connecticut District Marshal Lawrence Bobnick issued 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 demonstrates the impact this partnership brings in the pursuit of justice.”

Morales was captured in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, on Saturday and was awaiting extradition to Connecticut. His bail was reportedly set at $3 million.

A GoFundMe launched by Mercado’s family describes her as a “loved daughter, mother, niece, sister and friend” whose life, like her son’s, was “tragically cut short due to gun violence.”

“If you had the pleasure of knowing her, you know that she was one of the strongest young women whose life was not always so easy,” GoFundMe says of Mercado, who was from Springfield, Massachusetts. “The Messiah brought so much joy to Jesse, and there is no doubt that heaven became even more beautiful with both of them. Jessia is survived by many loved ones and most importantly her eldest son who was such a big part of her world. The family would appreciate any support to give Jesse and Messiah a wonderful ministry.”

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‘Horrifying’ murders of mother and son lead to manhunt and arrest

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