An 18-year-old man accused of killing of a Salem State University student this week pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on Thursday.
Carl-Hens Beliard's life and dreams were tragically cut short on Halloween night.
Police said it was a complicated case that took a lot of work to crack but in the end, they were able to find and arrest Missael Peña Canela less than 24 hours after Beliard's death.
Police believe some sort of altercation ensued Tuesday night between Beliard, 18, and Peña Canela in the area of Forest Avenue and Lussier Street, before the shots rang out.
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Not long after, around 1:24 a.m., they found the victim in a car with multiple gun shot wounds. He was taken to Salem Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The shooting came just hours after revelers had crowded the city for its annual Halloween celebration.
"I couldn't believe it. I said, 'It cannot be true. I talked to him on Tuesday'," said Beliard's mother, Altegrece Beliar. "He was a really lovely child. He loved everyone; he was really positive."
Peña Canela is charged with murder. It's unclear at this time if additional charges will follow.
When news hit the Salem State University community on Wednesday morning, dozens of students, even the team's coach, created a makeshift memorial and held a tribute for Beliard, who was just one week from his 19th birthday and just days away from what would have been his first college basketball game.
Beliard is listed on the roster of the Salem State Vikings basketball team. The team's first game of the season is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 8.
Beliard was also a member of Worcester’s North High School varsity boys basketball team and visited the Statehouse earlier this year to meet Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll after the team won the Division 1 State Championship. Healey and Driscoll both played basketball in college, Driscoll at Salem State.
Beliard is listed on the roster of the Salem State Vikings basketball team. The team's first game of the season is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 8.
Beliard was also a member of Worcester’s North High School varsity boys basketball team and visited the Statehouse earlier this year to meet Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll after the team won the Division 1 State Championship. Healey and Driscoll both played basketball in college, Driscoll at Salem State.
Healey said her “heart aches for Carl’s family” and became emotional when asked Thursday about Beliard's killing.
“We had the opportunity, both the lieutenant governor and I, to meet with Carl, who was the only senior on that state championship team, and his teammates. He was excited about going to college. He was excited about playing college ball,” said Healey, who said she phoned the team coach.
“I was just horrified when I heard the news that he had been killed, and killed in such a violent and senseless way, and killed at a time in his life when he should have every opportunity,” she added.
Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo described the shooting as a terrible act of violence. He said “our hearts go out to the Beliard family and to the Salem State University community,” and he thanked investigators.
Salem State University President John Keenan called the shooting “heartbreaking for all in our community and every parent’s worst nightmare.”
"This is the hardest day you can have as a college president to have a tragedy like this unfold right near your campus to such a promising young man," he added.
Keenan said they'll be working closely with the family to make sure Beliard is honored appropriately.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
