Connecticut man suspected of killing mother and her baby owes him more than $400
A Connecticut man faces multiple charges for killing a mother and her young son, allegedly because the woman owed him money.
Lance “Macho” Morales, 23, appeared in a Hartford, Conn., court for the first time on Monday before new details about his November arrest were released.
Morales is accused of killing 20-year-old Jessiah Mercado and her 4-month-old son Messiah Diaz in a drive-by shooting on Nov. 19 ).
Manhunt underway in Connecticut after suspect allegedly killed mother, baby in drive-by shooting
Lance Morales, 23, is charged with murdering Jessiah Mercado, 20, in a drive-by shooting on Nov. 19 in Hartford, Connecticut. and her 4-month-old Messiah Diaz. (Hartford Police Department)
According to the Associated Press, the arrest warrant alleges that Morales opened fire on the car the two were riding in because Mercado owed him $400 for the use of his Mazda SUV.
He charged her $100 a day for a rental car, and she reportedly fell behind on her payments.
In an exchange between Morales and Mercado before the fatal shooting in broad daylight, she told him her young son was inside the SUV. A witness told police that Morales said he didn’t care, the Associated Press reported.
There were two other people in the car at the time of the murder, but only one was injured.
Jessiah Mercado and her 4-month-old son were pronounced dead at Hartford Hospital on Tuesday, Nov. 19, in a shooting allegedly committed by Morales. (World Trade Center)
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According to the arrest warrant, Morales’ firearm was believed to be fully automatic.
After the fatal shooting, a massive four-day manhunt was launched for Morales, who was eventually arrested in Puerto Rico on November 23.
After a four-day manhunt, Lance Morales was arrested in Puerto Rico on November 23. (U.S. Marshals Service/Hartford Police Department, Connecticut, via AP)
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Morales is charged with two counts of murder, assault and other crimes and faces life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted.
He was ordered held on $5 million bail during a court hearing on Monday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
