Connecticut law enforcement agencies are intensively searching for Lance “Macho” Morales, a 23-year-old from Waterbury, following a devastating drive-by shooting in Hartford that resulted in the deaths of 20-year-old Jessiah Mercado and her 4-month-old son, Messiah Diaz. The incident, which has shocked the community, took place on Tuesday, and Morales has been on the run since.
Hartford Police Department responded to a grim scene at Hartford Hospital on Tuesday afternoon, where a vehicle arrived bearing three victims of gunfire. Jessiah Mercado and her infant were tragically pronounced dead at the hospital, while a male in his twenties suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. Another individual, the driver of the vehicle, was unharmed.
During a press conference, Interim Police Chief Kenny Howell addressed the suspect directly, urging Morales to surrender: “Lance, you have no other option but to hand yourself in to the Hartford Police Department for the horrific crimes that you have done.” Howell emphasized the department’s determination to capture Morales, promising to deploy all available resources including state and federal aid to ensure his apprehension.
Authorities found the vehicle used in the shooting abandoned earlier today, which indicates that Morales may still be in the area. The shooting, according to a Hartford Police spokesperson, stemmed from a dispute over a vehicle and involved Morales, who is believed to be an associate of Mercado from Springfield, Massachusetts.
“This is a sad day for us in the city of Hartford,” Howell remarked, reflecting on the emotional toll this incident has taken on the community. “This has hit the citizens of Hartford, the mothers and fathers, the grandparents; it has hit us all.”
The Hartford Police continue their efforts to locate Morales, with the assistance of multiple law enforcement agencies. A bond of $3 million will be set upon his capture. The tragic event unfolded at 380 New Britain Avenue, where the victims’ vehicle was reportedly side by side with the suspect’s vehicle when the shooting occurred.
As this investigation continues, the community remains in mourning over a senseless act of violence that claimed the lives of a young mother and her baby, leaving a lasting impact on the city of Hartford.
