Dejan Belnavis, suspect in Worcester double murder, arrested in California

WORCESTER — Dejan D. Belnavis, who police believe is one of two men who killed Chasity Nuñez and her 11-year-old daughter, Zella, last week, was arrested Monday afternoon in San Diego, police say.

"This is a great moment for the city of Worcester, a great moment for the Police Department," City Manager Eric D. Batista said at a Monday night press conference. "This is a time of celebration for us because we've been hard at work collaborating with many partners to come to this moment."

Belnavis was apprehended during a traffic stop about 5:40 p.m. Eastern time, police say.

During the press conference at Worcester police headquarters, Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. said Belnavis was arrested near the San Diego Zoo.

Police allege that Belnavis, 27, and Karel Mangual, 28, opened fire on an SUV parked on Englewood Avenue around 3 p.m. March 5, killing 27-year-old Chasity Nuñez and her daughter Zella.

Mangual was arrested Wednesday and arraigned Thursday in Central District Court on charges of armed assault with intent to murder and carrying a firearm without a license. Tuesday, those charges were upgraded to murder.

Early said Belnavis will be charged with murder when he returns to Massachusetts.

Belnavis, with a most recent address of Toronita Avenue,  has a long criminal record, mostly for drugs and domestic violence. Like Mangual, he has been associated with gangs, court records show.

More: Karel Mangual, first man arrested in Worcester double homicide, now faces 2 murder charges

A spokesperson for Early's office said Tuesday that Belnavis is expected to appear for an extradition hearing in front of a judge in California, but it is not clear when that will happen.

When he will be brought to Massachusetts also depends on whether Belnavis fights extradition, added the spokesperson.

Interim Police Chief Paul Saucier said the arrest was the result of many agencies collaborating including Worcester and state police; the U.S. Attorney's office in Massachusetts; Hartford, Connecticut, police; San Diego police and the U.S. Marshals offices in Massachusetts, Maine and Rhode Island.

"This is a great example of when local law enforcement, federal partners and state police come together," Saucier said.

The chief said Worcester is a safe community when stacked up against comparable cities. He said patrols increased in the area of the shooting.

"This isn't Worcester. This is not a violent city," Saucier said. "We have our challenges. Everyone does in the city. But besides that, the men and women of the Worcester Police Department are out there every day putting 110% so that we can live in a safe community."

Early said that although Belnavis was considered armed and dangerous, the arrest was made without any additional violence.

Authorities were tracking Belnavis for a week through law enforcement technology, Saucier said, and were able to pinpoint his location. Early said "boots and leather on the ground" police work and tips also contributed to the arrest.

At the time of the press conference, Saucier said interviews were not yet conducted to determine a motive for the shooting and why Belnavis had gone to California.

Worcester police Lt. David Doherty said Chasity and Zella Nuñez's family members were notified of the arrest shortly before it was announced to the public around 6 p.m.

Early said the family is asking for privacy.

"(The family is) pretty worn out from all of this," Early said.

Mayor Joseph M. Petty said the arrest brings great relief to the family as well as to the Columbus Park neighborhood and Worcester Public Schools. Zella Nuñez was a sixth grade student at Columbus Park Preparatory Academy.

Chasity Nuñez was remembered as an exemplary member of the Connecticut National Guard and a beloved co-worker in her job as a clinical quality program coordinator at MIT Health.

According to an obituary for both Chasity and Zella Nuñez, Chasity was a dependable daughter, mother, sister and friend.

Obituary Chasity and Zella Nunez

"Chasity was a force to be reckoned with; incredibly dependable. There wasn't anything she couldn't do, and if it couldn't be done immediately, you better believe she would strategize to make sure it got done," the obituary read. "As a best friend, Chasity was incomparable; all the perfect words in the world would not be able to encapsulate the honor of knowing her."

Zella was described as a "princess" who shared her mother's positive outlook and loved teaching the latest TikTok dances.

"Her benevolent nature won hearts easily. She was a brilliant child set up for success because of all the love and encouragement behind her," the obituary read.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Dejan Belnavis, Worcester double murder suspect, caught in California