An arrest warrant has been issued for Dejan D. Belnavis following a tragic shooting incident in Worcester that took the lives of a mother and her 11-year-old daughter. The victims, identified as Chasity Nunez and Zella Nunez, were shot inside an SUV on Englewood Avenue.
Belnavis, 27, is facing charges of armed assault with intent to murder and carrying a firearm without a license in connection with the shooting. Surveillance video reportedly shows Belnavis and another suspect opening fire on the SUV. Another man, Karel Mangual, has also been arrested and charged in connection with the incident.
Mangual, who has been linked to a previous shooting in 2015, faces charges of armed assault to murder and carrying a firearm without a license. Police were able to track a white sedan connected to the shooting to Hartford, Connecticut, where Belnavis and Mangual were spotted exiting the vehicle.
Community leaders and organizations have expressed their condolences for the victims and their families. Governor Maura Healey has described the killing as a “trauma” for the city and emphasized the need for justice to be served.
This tragic incident marks the second daylight shooting in Worcester in as many days, with the first occurring near the old Worcester County Courthouse on Monday. The community is left reeling from these acts of violence and is calling for an end to such senseless shootings.
