An arrest has been made after Carl-Hens Beliard, an 18-year-old freshman basketball player at Salem State University, was shot and killed early Wednesday morning near campus.
Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker said it happened just before 1:30 a.m. on Forest Avenue. Beliard, who is from Worcester, was found with gunshot wounds in a car that was up on the sidewalk. A bullet hole could be seen in a window. Beliard was rushed to Salem Hospital where he died.
Missael Pena Canela, 18, of Salem, was arrested Wednesday evening and charged with murder. The investigation remains ongoing. He will be arraigned on Thursday in Salem District Court.
Tucker said the shooting does not appear to be random and there was no threat to the Salem State community. Details about how Canela was identified as a suspect have not been released.
“As both the Salem State president and a college dad, this tragedy is heartbreaking for all in our community and every parent’s worst nightmare,” Salem State President John Keenan said in a statement.
The Worcester North High School graduate was days away from playing his first college basketball game.
The Essex County DA said the shooting in Salem is not connected to a fatal shooting at Worcester State University last week.
“On behalf of the City of Salem, our hearts go out to the Beliard family and to the Salem State University community,” Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo said in a statement.
Worcester Mayor Joe Petty also offered his condolences in a statement on Facebook saying “Carl was a hardworking, kind individual whose life was taken too soon.”
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