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.
MT. JULIET, Tenn. โ Authorities have identified two victims killed during an active shooter incident at Cedar Creek Marina in Mt. Juliet late Friday night.
The suspect, identified as Gary Haley, a convicted felon with an extensive criminal history, is deceased following an officer-involved shooting, officials confirmed.
Mount Juliet Police officers were dispatched at approximately 9:30 p.m. Friday to the Cedar Creek Marina, located in the 9000 block of Saundersville Road, after receiving reports of a man threatening another individual on the docks.
Due to the active shooter report, a shelter-in-place order was issued for the surrounding area as a precaution.
Upon arrival, officers located an adult male suffering from a gunshot wound.
The victim was later identified as Robby Brogdon, who was transported to a local hospital for emergency medical treatment.
Despite life-saving efforts, Brogdon later succumbed to his injuries.
Investigators determined that the suspected shooter had retreated to a boat within the marina and had barricaded himself inside.
The standoff continued for several hours as officers secured the scene and attempted to resolve the situation safely.
At approximately 1:00 a.m. Saturday, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) reported that the suspect engaged responding officers and fired shots at them under circumstances that remain under investigation. Officers returned fire.
The suspect, Gary Haley, was later found deceased aboard the vessel.
During the course of the response, officers also discovered a second adult male victim, Nathan Jones, who had been shot by the suspect.
Jones was pronounced dead at the scene.
No law enforcement officers were injured during the incident.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has assumed responsibility for the investigation, which includes a homicide, an attempted homicide, and an officer-involved shooting.
TBI agents are actively conducting interviews, collecting evidence, and working to establish a comprehensive timeline of events.
Upon completion of the investigation, findings will be submitted to 15th Judicial District Attorney General Jason Lawson for review.
Authorities stated that additional information will be released as it becomes available.