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.
Crime
16-year-old Khyon Smith-Tate found shot to death inside Chipotle bathroom on edge of Temple University’s campus in North Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA โ A 16-year-old boy was fatally shot inside the bathroom of a Chipotle restaurant near Temple Universityโs campus in North Philadelphia on Monday afternoon, police said, as students and staff returned for the first day of the Spring 2026 semester.
The shooting occurred at approximately 5:00 p.m. inside the Chipotle located in the 1100 block of West Montgomery Avenue, on the ground floor of The View at Montgomery apartment complex. The building is situated near Temple Universityโs Student Center and TECH Center.
Police later identified the victim as Khyon Smith-Tate, a North Philadelphia resident. Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said Smith-Tate was found with a gunshot wound to the chest and was pronounced dead at 5:24 p.m.
Temple University President John Fry and Vice President for Public Safety and Chief of Police Jennifer Griffin issued a joint statement following the incident:
โThe loss of life to gun violence is a profound tragedy, and there are no words that can make sense of it. Our thoughts are with the victimโs family and loved ones.โ
According to investigators, Smith-Tate and another minor entered the restaurant and requested access to the restroom. Chief Inspector Small said the shooting is believed to have occurred inside the bathroom.
Moments later, employees discovered Smith-Tate suffering from a gunshot wound. Police recovered one spent shell casing from a semiautomatic weapon inside the restroom.
Although the victimโs last known address was approximately eight blocks from the scene, authorities have not indicated what brought him to the location or what led to the shooting.
At the time of the incident, the restaurant was crowded, and multiple individuals inside the business were detained briefly for questioning. However, police said they have not yet obtained any statements from witnesses who reported hearing a gunshot.
A person of interest was taken into custody several blocks from the scene shortly after the shooting, but Chief Inspector Small said that individualโs involvement remains unclear.
As of Tuesday, police confirmed that no arrests have been made and no motive has been established.
Investigators believe Smith-Tate entered the restroom with another minor, though the whereabouts of that individual remain unknown.
Police are also seeking information about three possible suspects, described as teenagers carrying backpacks.
Chief Inspector Small noted that the area is equipped with numerous surveillance cameras, which detectives are reviewing as part of the ongoing investigation.
Authorities are asking anyone with information related to the incident to contact the Philadelphia Police Department.