Detectives are hoping that doubling the reward amount will instigate someone coming forward with information leading to the capture of Dejan Belnavis, wanted in connection with the deadly shooting of a mother and her daughter last week in Worcester
WORCESTER—The U.S. Marshals Service increased the reward from $5,000 to $10,000 for information leading to the apprehension of Dejan Dante Belnavis, 27, who is wanted in connection with the fatal shooting of Chasity Nuñez and her 11-year-old daughter, Zella, in Worcester’s Columbus Park neighborhood last week.
Belnavis faces charges of armed assault with intent to murder and possession of a firearm without a license.
Cellphone records place him in the vicinity at the time of the shooting, and surveillance video captured the incident, according to multiple reports, and investigators believe Belnavis fled to Hartford, CT, where a relative lives.
On Tuesday, March 5, around 3:09 p.m., Worcester officers were called to the area of Lisbon Street at Englewood Ave. for a report of gunshots. Officers found a parked vehicle with two females with gunshot wounds inside. Both had suffered serious injuries and were rushed to the hospital by ambulance. Mother and daughter were pronounced deceased at the hospital.
Around 9:05 p.m. on Wednesday, March 6, the Worcester Police Department issued a BOLO for 27-year-old Dejan Belnavis, wanted on charges of armed assault with intent to murder and possession of a firearm without a license.
Described as approximately 5 feet, 11 inches tall, and weighing about 160 pounds, Belnavis has black hair and brown eyes.
On Thursday, late morning, WPD announced that the person arrested in connection with the homicide is Karel Mangual, 28, of Sterling Street. Mangual has been charged with armed assault to murder and carrying a firearm without a license. He also had a preexisting arrest warrant and will be arraigned in court.
