New details were released about the November arrest of 23-year-old Lance “Macho” Morales following his first appearance in a courtroom.
Morales is accused of killing 20-year-old Jessiah Mercado and her 4-month-old son Messiah Diaz in a drive-by shooting on November 19 in Hartford, Connecticut.
An arrest warrant alleged Morales opened fire on the car the two were in because Mercado owed him $400 for using his Mazda SUV. He was charging her $100 a day to rent the vehicle, and she reportedly fell behind on the payments.
Before the deadly shooting in broad daylight, an exchange took place between Morales and Mercado, in which she told him her infant son was inside the SUV. Allegedly, a witness told police that Morales said he didn’t care.
Two other people were inside the car during the brazen crime, but only one of them was wounded.
Morales’ firearm was believed to be fully automatic.
A four-day manhunt took place for Morales following the deadly shooting, and he was ultimately arrested in Puerto Rico on November 23. He was extradited to Connecticut on December 28.
Morales is charged with two counts of murder, assault and other crimes, and is facing life in prison without parole if convicted.
He was ordered to be held on $5 million bail during the court hearing.
