Conn. National Guard, Worcester officials mourn mother and daughter killed in shooting

The Connecticut Army National Guard, MIT Health, and Worcester city and school officials are among those grieving the loss of a Worcester mother and daughter killed in a shooting this week.

Chastity Nunez and her 11-year-old daughter, Zella, were shot while sitting in a parked SUV in the area of Englewood Avenue and 1 Lisbon St. on Tuesday afternoon, Worcester police confirmed earlier this week. First responders arrived at the scene around 3 p.m. and transported the mother and daughter to an area hospital, where they were pronounced dead, they said.

On Wednesday night, police arrested Karel Mangual, 28, of Worcester, and charged him with armed assault to murder and carrying a firearm with a license. Mangual also had a preexisting arrest warrant, they said.

A second suspect, 27-year-old Dejan Belnavis, who police want in connection to the murders, remains at large. Authorities noted that Belnavis “should be considered armed and dangerous.”

The Connecticut Army National Guard confirmed that Chastity Nunez was a patient administration specialist with the 142nd Medical Company in Danbury. Throughout her four years of service, Nunez had received awards including the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, and the Army Achievement Medal.

“Our hearts are broken because we lost Specialist Chasity Nunez to senseless violence. She and her daughter were killed while sitting in their vehicle in their own neighborhood on Tuesday afternoon,” Maj. David C. Pytlik said in an emailed statement to Boston.com.

“Chasity was beloved by her fellow Soldiers in the 142nd Medical Company,” the state public affairs officer continued. “Her wit, social nature and dedication to duty made her one of the best Soldiers in our unit.

“I cannot begin to make sense of why this happened and why her family, friends, co-workers and fellow Soldiers have been robbed of her and Zella,” Pytlik said. “What we can, and must do now, is support one another as we grieve, process this profound loss and honor their memory.”

He also described the Worcester mother as “incredibly resilient, brilliantly intelligent, destined for success in her civilian and military careers, and more full of compassion than anyone I know.”

In addition to this service, Nunez worked for the past three years as a patient access representative at UMass Memorial Medical Center, according to her LinkedIn.

Since July, she also worked as a patient safety and clinical quality program coordinator at MIT Health, an MIT spokesperson confirmed. The clinic plans to offer support and time for staff to meet and grieve this loss, the spokesperson noted.

“Chas was passionate about the health and wellbeing of the MIT community,” Dr. Cecilia Stuopis, chief health officer at MIT Health, noted in a community statement. “She was beloved by the colleagues who worked closely with her, and her dedication to our patients was powerful and impactful. She will be deeply missed.”

Worcester officials, including City Manager Eric D. Batista, Mayor Joseph M. Petty, interim police Chief Paul Saucier, and Superintendent Rachel Monárrez, also issued statements this week.

“Today we mourn the senseless loss of two Worcester residents, a mother and daughter whose lives were taken far too soon and far too tragically,” the statement noted, while also requesting “patience and privacy” from the public, as family and friends of the victims, as well as the school community, grieves this tragedy.

“The residents of Worcester deserve better, and we will stand alongside our community in sorrow and solidarity,” the statement noted. “Our appreciation goes out to the members of the Worcester Police Department, the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office, and to all first responders who assisted.

“Worcester is a resilient community, and we know that our residents will lovingly embrace the victims’ family and friends as we work toward healing from this traumatic event,” the statement continued.

Police urge anyone with information related to these murders to call detectives at 508-799-8651.

Community members can also submit tips anonymously by texting 274637 TIPWPD or visiting worcesterma.gov/police.

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