HARTFORD, CT. (THECOUNT) — Twenty-year-old Jessiah Mercado and her 4-month-old son, Messiah Diaz, both from Springfield, Massachusetts, were tragically killed in a drive-by shooting in Hartford on Tuesday. The incident, which police believe stemmed from a dispute over a vehicle, also left a third victim with non-life-threatening injuries.
Hartford police have identified 23-year-old Lance “Macho” Morales of Waterbury as the primary suspect in the double homicide. Morales is considered armed and dangerous.
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He was last seen driving a white Infiniti Q70 with Massachusetts license plate 3NE-B35, which authorities suspect is a misused plate. Police say Morales has access to several vehicles and a history of criminal activity.
“We believe that our victim’s vehicle was pulled up alongside our suspect vehicle, who opened fire into the vehicle, striking our victims,” said Lt. Aaron Boisvert of the Hartford Police Department.
Tragic Details of the Shooting:
The shooting occurred on New Britain Avenue, between Monroe and Zion streets. Mercado and her son were passengers in a vehicle when the suspect allegedly opened fire, striking them. A third victim, whose injuries were not life-threatening, was also in the vehicle.
The driver, unharmed, rushed the victims to Hartford Hospital, where Mercado and her infant son were pronounced dead.
Community and Police Response:
Hartford Police Chief Kenny Howell addressed Morales directly during a press conference, urging him to surrender.
“Lance, you have no other option but to turn yourself in to the Hartford Police Department for the horrific crimes that you have done. You’ve taken the lives of an infant and his mother. We do not tolerate that in this city,” Howell said.
Local residents, already weary from ongoing violence in the area, expressed their heartbreak over the tragedy.
“Every day it’s danger. A shooting, drugs,” said longtime Hartford resident Delia Mendoza. “No, not safe in this area.”
Ongoing Investigation and Public Safety Advisory:
Authorities continue their investigation, with every available unit and detective actively searching for Morales and the vehicle he was driving. Police have advised the public not to approach Morales but to call 911 immediately if they spot him or his vehicle.
Morales is facing multiple charges, including two counts of murder.
Impact on the Community:
This incident marks another devastating act of violence in Hartford and underscores the urgency of addressing gun violence and its ripple effects.
The Mothers United Against Violence group has called on the community to take action.
“The only way we’re gonna stop it is the people in the community got to stop it,” said Rev. Henry Brown, a representative of the organization.
Foster Care Connection:
Authorities confirmed that one of the children involved in this incident was in foster care in Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF) is collaborating with law enforcement as they investigate this tragedy.
Call to Action:
As police work tirelessly to locate Morales, the Hartford community is left grieving the senseless loss of two lives. The tragic deaths of Jessiah Mercado and her son, Messiah Diaz, have ignited calls for stronger community engagement to address the underlying causes of violence in the city.
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