After a dayslong manhunt, a suspect has been taken into custody in the fatal shooting of a mother and her 11-year-old daughter in Massachusetts, authorities said.
Chasity Nunez and her daughter, Zella Nunez, were found shot to death in a parked car in Worcester on the afternoon of March 5, the Worcester Police Department said.
Chasity Nunez and her 11-year-old daughter, Zella Nunez, were shot to death in a parked car in Worcester, Mass.
WCVB
Chasity Nunez and her 11-year-old daughter, Zella Nunez, were shot to death in a parked car in Worcester, Mass.
WCVB
Security video shows the victims’ car parked on the side of the road when two people walked up to the car and started shooting, according to court documents.
One suspect, 28-year-old Karel Mangual, was arrested one day after the double homicide. Police urged the public to be on the lookout for the second suspect, Dejan Belnavis, 27, and offered a reward up to $10,000.
Belnavis was taken into custody on Monday after a motor vehicle stop in the San Diego area, police said.
Dejan Belnavis was arrested in California on March 11, 2024.
US Marshals Service
“We’ve been tracking him for a week. We’re using law enforcement technology with the aid of U.S. Marshals … and the state police. We were able to locate him through that technology,” Worcester Police Chief Paul Saucier said at a news conference Monday.
“Right now, there’s nothing else as far as why he was there,” Saucier added.
Mangual and Belnavis were both wanted on charges of armed assault to murder and carrying a firearm without a license, police said.
Mangual’s charges will be upgraded to murder on Tuesday, and when Belnavis is brought back to Massachusetts he will also be charged to murder, Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early Jr. said.
Dejan Belnavis, 27, was arrested on charges of armed assault to murder and carrying a firearm without a license, police said.
Worcester Police Department/Facebook
Police have not disclosed a possible motive.
Police and prosecutors said they’ve spoken with the victims’ family following Belnavis’ arrest. Worcester Police Lt. David Doherty said they were “grateful and thankful.”
A tragic incident unfolded in Massachusetts recently, as a man was arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a mother and her 11-year-old child in a parked car. The suspect, who had been the subject of a dayslong manhunt, was apprehended by authorities and is now facing serious charges.
The shooting took place in a quiet residential area, shocking the community and leaving many residents on edge. The victims, a 35-year-old woman and her young child, were found dead in their car, with gunshot wounds to their bodies. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, but authorities are working diligently to piece together the events leading up to the tragic incident.
After the shooting, the suspect fled the scene, sparking a massive manhunt that lasted for several days. Law enforcement agencies from across the state joined forces to track down the suspect, utilizing helicopters, K-9 units, and other resources in their search. Finally, after an intense pursuit, the suspect was located and taken into custody.
The arrest of the suspect brings some closure to the grieving family and community members who were left reeling from the senseless violence. However, it also raises questions about what could have led to such a heinous act and how similar tragedies can be prevented in the future.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of addressing mental health issues, gun violence, and other societal problems that can contribute to acts of violence. It also highlights the need for communities to come together to support one another in times of crisis and work towards creating a safer and more peaceful environment for all.
As the investigation into this tragic shooting continues, authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward and assist in bringing justice to the victims and their loved ones. In the meantime, the community is left mourning the loss of a mother and her young child, while grappling with the harsh reality of gun violence in their own backyard.
