In Hartford, Connecticut, police are urgently searching for a man accused of committing a heart-wrenching crime that has shaken the community. Authorities believe 23-year-old Lance “Macho” Morales shot and killed a young woman and her baby boy inside a car on Tuesday afternoon, all because of a dispute over a vehicle.
The acting Hartford Police Chief, Kenny Howell, made a heartfelt plea to Morales during a televised news conference. “Lance, you have no other option but to turn yourself in,” he said. “This tragedy strikes at the very heart of Hartford.”
The shocking incident unfolded around 3 p.m. when Morales allegedly pulled up next to a car in Hartford and began shooting. The target was 20-year-old Jessiah Mercado from Springfield, Massachusetts, someone Morales reportedly knew. According to police, the two had been arguing about a car. Tragically, Mercado and her 4-month-old son were killed in the attack.
Another man in his 20s, who was also in the car, was shot but is expected to survive. Meanwhile, the driver of the vehicle was unharmed and managed to rush the victims to Hartford Hospital.
Police say they were able to identify Morales thanks to surveillance footage and tips from the community. Describing him as “armed and dangerous,” Lt. Aaron Boisvert warned people not to approach him. Morales is now wanted on a $3 million bond for multiple crimes.
Morales had been released from prison earlier this year after serving three years for attempted assault. His past, combined with the severity of this crime, has left residents on edge and authorities on high alert.
As the search continues, Hartford’s community mourns the lives lost in this senseless act of violence, hoping for justice to be served swiftly.
