A young mother and her daughter have died after being shot in an SUV Tuesday in Worcester, Massachusetts, according to police, law enforcement sources and a close friend of the victims.
Worcester police confirmed Wednesday that the victims were a mother and daughter. Both were pronounced dead after being rushed to a hospital by ambulance, they said.
Family members say 27-year-old Chasity Nunez and her 11-year-old daughter, Zella, were killed.
"Zella was just the best," said her cousin and godfather, Tyrae Sims. "So full of life, such a good little girl. She didn't deserve it at all."
Sims is also a childhood friend of her mom.
"The best mom she could possibly have been," he said of Nunez. "She loved those girls with all her heart."
Nunez leaves behind a 2-year-old daughter.
"I'm thankful to God she wasn't in the car," said Sims. "It's a horrible silver lining, I guess."
Sims says Nunez had served in the military, and that Zella was legally blind.
Police have not said whether the shooting was random. Sims says he has no idea why they would have been targeted.
"In any inner city, anyone that has any kind of morality understands it's always been no women, no children," said Sims. "I just hope they know the gravity of what they just did. They took two beautiful souls senselessly."
Wednesday night, Worcester police released a photo of a suspect, 27-year-old Dejan Belnavis, wanted in connection with the deadly double shooting.
Belnavis is described as being about 5'11 and 160 pounds. Police say he is considered armed and dangerous, asking anyone with information to call authorities at 508-799-8651. Anonymous tips can also be left here or by texting 274637 with the phrase "TIPWPD."
Police say Belnavis is wanted on charges of armed assault with intent to murder and possession of a firearm without a license.
A short time later, police said a second person had been arrested, but did not immediately release further details.
The shooting took place about 3 p.m. on Lisbon Street at Englewood Avenue. The vehicle was riddled with bullet holes and more than 30 evidence markers were spread out over the scene Tuesday night, and a bouquet of flowers was left at the location Wednesday morning.
Neighbors say that, the street is typically packed with children in the middle of the afternoon, when the shooting took place.
"It was around 3 o'clock, I was getting ready to run up to the store, and I heard a couple of shots fired from something that sounded like a machine gun. Scary that you got to worry about getting shot in your own neighborhood, you know?" Michael Mahoney said.
"To be honest with you, I'll be up throughout the night, not even able to sleep because this is very unsettling to have something like this happen on this street," Maureen Morales said.
