Tragedy Strikes: National Guardswoman and Blind 11-Year-Old Daughter Fatally Ambushed While Inside Parked Car
In a horrifying incident that has left a neighborhood in Worcester, MA, shaken, a National Guardswoman and her visually impaired daughter were ruthlessly killed while sitting in their parked SUV. The victims, Chasity Nunez, 27, and her 11-year-old daughter Zella, were found with serious gunshot wounds inside their Nissan Rogue on Tuesday afternoon.
The shocking crime took place around 3 p.m. on March 5, and witnesses reported seeing two men approach the car and open fire, before fleeing the scene and getting into a white sedan. Security footage revealed a vehicle matching the description circling the area before the shooting and speeding away afterward.
Chasity Nunez and her daughter Zella were not only innocent victims but also deeply cherished members of their community. Nunez served as a patient administration specialist in the National Guard’s 142nd Medical Company based in Danbury, CT. Her colleagues praised her for her dedication to duty and described her as one of the best soldiers in the unit. She was due to return to service shortly after the tragic incident.
Nunez was also involved in the healthcare sector, working as a patient safety and clinical quality program coordinator at MIT Health. Colleagues remember her as passionate about the well-being of the MIT community, and her absence will be deeply felt. She also held a position as a patient access representative at UMass Memorial Medical Center.
The loss of Chasity Nunez and Zella has left their loved ones devastated and the community in shock. Neighbors recount the terrifying sounds of gunshots in an area where children are often seen playing. The senseless act of violence has raised concerns about safety and the need for justice.
While one of the alleged killers, Karel Mangual, has been arrested and charged with armed assault to murder and carrying a firearm without a license, the police are still searching for the second suspect, Dejan Belnavis. Belnavis is considered armed and dangerous and is wanted on charges of armed assault with intent to murder and possession of a firearm without a license.
Authorities have not yet released a motive for the brutal attack, leaving the community to grapple with the senselessness of the crime. Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty and other city officials expressed their condolences and condemned the violence, emphasizing that such acts have no place in their city.
The tragic deaths of Chasity Nunez and her young daughter Zella serve as a painful reminder of the fragility of life and the devastating impact of violence. As the community mourns their loss, they also demand justice for the victims and accountability for those responsible. The search for answers continues while loved ones try to cope with the unimaginable loss of two beautiful souls.
