Crime
20-year-old Jessiah Mercado and her four-month-old son Messiah Diaz killed in Hartford shooting
The man in the vehicle suffered gunshot wounds and was transported to a local hospital, where he is now recovering.
Tragedy struck Hartford on Tuesday when a mother and her infant were fatally shot in what police are calling a targeted attack.
The victims have been identified as 20-year-old Jessiah Mercado of Springfield and her four-month-old son, Messiah Diaz.
The shooting occurred at approximately 2:47 p.m. near Thomas Hyland Memorial Park on New Britain Avenue.
Mercado was sitting in her car with her baby and a man in his 20s when another vehicle pulled alongside them and opened fire, according to the Hartford Police Department.
Mercado and her son were pronounced dead at the scene.
The man in the vehicle suffered gunshot wounds and was transported to a local hospital, where he is now recovering.
The location of the shooting, close to a daycare center and Trinity College, has heightened community concerns.
Hartford Police have not yet released a description of the suspect or their vehicle but are actively pursuing leads.
Investigators are interviewing witnesses and analyzing surveillance footage from nearby cameras in hopes of identifying the assailant.
Authorities urge anyone with information about the shooting to contact the Hartford Police Department as they continue their investigation into this heartbreaking incident.
MEMPHIS, TN – A mass shooting in South Memphis on Wednesday afternoon left two people dead and three others critically injured following a violent exchange of gunfire inside a residence near LeMoyne-Owen College.
The shooting occurred at a home on College Park Drive, just yards away from the LeMoyne-Owen College campus and in close proximity to a daycare and tutoring facility.
Emergency responders arrived to find five victims suffering from gunshot wounds. One individual was pronounced dead at the scene, while another succumbed to their injuries at Regional One Health.
One victim has been identified as Leon Parker.
The three remaining victims were transported to local hospitals in critical condition.
The Memphis Police Department (MPD) responded swiftly, with multiple squad cars, ambulances, fire trucks, and crime scene vans lining the street for hours. MPD Chief C.J. Davis and other top officials were present as the investigation unfolded.
Authorities believe the shooting stemmed from an altercation inside the home that escalated into gunfire.
“There was some type of disturbance inside the residence that led to an exchange of gunfire,” said Lt. Louis Brownlee, an MPD spokesperson.
Police have confirmed that all individuals involved in the shooting have been identified, and the violence appears to have been contained within the residence. However, the motive for the shooting remains unclear, and it has not been determined who fired the first shots or whether any of the survivors will face charges.
Shortly after the shooting, LeMoyne-Owen College issued a statement clarifying that the incident did not involve any students, faculty, or staff and occurred off-campus.
“LeMoyne-Owen College remains fully operational following reports of an off-campus incident near 948 College Park Drive. The incident did not involve or impact LeMoyne-Owen College students, faculty, or staff, and there are no lockdowns or alerts in place at this time,” the college’s statement read.
Dr. Dunn-Ross, Chief Operating Officer of LeMoyne-Owen College, emphasized the college’s commitment to safety:
“The safety and well-being of our campus community is always our top priority. We are aware of the situation and in communication with local authorities. At this time, there is no threat to our campus, and operations will continue as normal.”
As of now, MPD has not provided further details on the cause of the altercation or whether any arrests have been made. The investigation remains active, and authorities urge anyone with information to contact law enforcement.