Crime
19-year-old Danielson Varela charged in fatal shooting of Cristiano Macedo inside New Bedford Morna Lounge and Grill
Two female victims sustained gunshot wounds and were treated for their injuries.
A 19-year-old New Bedford resident, Danielson Varela, has been charged in connection with a deadly shooting that occurred Saturday at the Morna Lounge and Grill on Acushnet Avenue.
The incident left one man dead and two women injured, according to authorities.
The shooting, reported Saturday inside the popular lounge, resulted in the death of 27-year-old Cristiano Macedo, also of New Bedford.
Two female victims sustained gunshot wounds and were treated for their injuries.
Varela was apprehended on Sunday and now faces multiple charges, including:
- First-degree murder
- Unlawful possession of a firearm
- Carrying a loaded firearm
- Two counts of assault and battery with a firearm
He is scheduled to be arraigned on Monday in New Bedford District Court.
The case remains under active investigation by Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office, in collaboration with New Bedford Police and Homicide Unit prosecutors.
Authorities have not released additional details about the events leading up to the shooting or Varela’s alleged involvement.
This tragic incident has shaken the New Bedford community, with many expressing condolences to the family of Cristiano Macedo and concern for the injured victims.
Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.
AUSTIN, Texas — A man was taken into custody Saturday afternoon following a shooting inside the Austin Central Library that left one person seriously injured and prompted a large emergency response and temporary shelter-in-place order in the downtown area.
According to the Austin Police Department (APD), officers responded shortly after 12:00 p.m. to reports of gunfire inside the Austin Central Library, located at 710 W. César Chávez Street.
Upon arrival, police and Austin-Travis County EMS units found one victim suffering from a gunshot wound.
The individual was transported to a local hospital in serious but stable condition.
Assistant Police Chief Lee Rogers stated during a press briefing that the shooter fled the scene before officers arrived.
After an extensive search, the suspect—identified as 55-year-old Harold Newton Keene—was located and arrested in South Austin at approximately 1:25 p.m.
The library was safely evacuated, and the shelter-in-place alert was lifted shortly after Keene’s apprehension.
Authorities emphasized that the shooting appeared to be an isolated incident involving only one suspect and one victim.
“This was not an active shooter situation,” Rogers confirmed.
Preliminary reports and public records reveal that Harold Newton Keene has a lengthy criminal history, including multiple arrests for assault, family violence, terroristic threats, burglary, drug possession, and evading arrest.
He is described by law enforcement officials as a habitual violent offender who has had numerous prior run-ins with police.
Records indicate Keene was previously arrested for threatening a man with a firearm several months ago and, in a separate incident, assaulted another inmate while in custody at the Travis County Jail.
In both cases, prosecutors later declined to pursue charges.
Authorities have not yet released a possible motive for the shooting or confirmed whether the suspect and victim knew each other.
The Austin Police Department’s Major Crimes Division is leading the investigation.
Anyone with information related to the incident is urged to contact the Austin Police Department or Crime Stoppers at 512-472-TIPS.