Man wanted in fatal shooting of woman and toddler in car in Connecticut, arrested in Puerto Rico

HARTFORD, Connecticut (AP) — A suspect in the fatal shooting of a woman and her 4-month-old son in a car in Hartford, Connecticut, was arrested in Puerto Rico on Saturday, officials said.

The U.S. Marshals Service said it found Lance “Macho” Morales at a residence in Barrio Fajardo. Police believe the 23-year-old Waterbury, Connecticut, resident pulled up next to a car and started shooting on Tuesday because of a dispute over a vehicle with a woman in the car, Jessiah Mercado.

20-year-old Mercado and her young son were killed. A man in the car was shot and injured.

Morales was being held on a $3 million bond while awaiting extradition to Connecticut. According to Hartford police and federal marshals, Morales was charged with two counts of murder and other charges in an arrest warrant issued this week in Connecticut.

It was not immediately clear whether Morales had an attorney. Emails requesting attorney information were sent to the Marshals Service and Hartford police.

Police said investigators were able to identify Morales through crime scene videos and information from the public. Acting Hartford Police Chief Kenny Howell called on Morales to turn himself in during a televised news conference Wednesday.

Morales was released from prison this year after serving three years for attempted assault, police said.

“Since the commission of this senseless and heinous act of violence, investigators from the Hartford Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service Violent Fugitive Task Forces in Connecticut and Puerto Rico have worked tirelessly around the clock to bring the suspect to justice,” said Acting U.S Marshal for the District of Connecticut Lawrence Bobnick said in a news release.