Second 'dangerous' man is arrested in California for fatal shooting of Massachusetts mom and blind daughter, 11, who were killed by 'hail of gunfire' while sitting in parked SUV

The nationwide hunt for an armed fugitive accused of gunning down a Massachusetts mom and her 11-year-old daughter has ended with the arrest of Dejan Belnavis in California.

Chasity Nunez, 27, and her blind daughter Zella died in a hail of bullets as they sat in a car outside their home in Worcester on Wednesday.

Local man Karel Mangual, 28, was arrested within hours and will be charged with the murder of the National Guardswoman when he appears at a ‘dangerousness hearing’ in Worcester today.

Belvanis, 27, will also be charged today after he was seized last night at a traffic stop outside the San Diego Zoo. Police have yet to reveal any motive for the brutal killing or a connection between the two men and their alleged victims. 

‘It's been a tough week, it's been a tough week for a lot of people, you never expect or anticipate anything like this,’ said Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early Jr.

‘It really jolts you, it hits you hard, especially anyone who's got children.’

Dejan Belvanis, 27, was arrested 'without struggle' near San Diego Zoo on Monday evening, nearly 3,000 miles from Worcester, Massachusetts, where he is accused of murdering Chasity Nunez, 27, and her 11-year-old daughter Zella on Wednesday 

Chasity Nunez, 27, was described as 'the best mom she could possibly be' to daughter Zella, 11, 

The driver's window of their car was riddled with bullet holes as neighbors described hearing what sounded like a 'machine gun'

Chasity’s mother Noemi Nunez said she had never heard of either man, and cousin Tyrae Sims said whoever killed her had no reason for the ‘senseless’ murder.

‘In any inner city, anyone that has any kind of morality understands it's always been no women, no children,’ he told NBC Boston.

‘I just hope they know the gravity of what they just did. They took two beautiful souls senselessly.’

Chasity’s SUV was left riddled with bullets in the driver’s window, and more than 30 police evidence markers dotted Lisbon Street at Englewood Avenue as the investigation began.

Prosecutors say Belnavis and Mangual were seen on surveillance video opening fire on the SUV in a street crowded with children before leaving the scene in a get away car which matched a witness's description.

The car's cellphone system allowed it to be traced to Hartford, Connecticut, near the home of a relative of Belnavis.

Police did not reveal how he got from there to California but said a combination of tip-offs and technology allowed them to poinpoint his location in San Diego, just hours after a reward for his capture was doubled from $5,000 to $10,000.

‘This was boots and leather on the ground,’ Early Jr told reporters.

‘Good old fashioned police work. Everyone was communicating. Just a great effort.’

Karel Mangual was arrested by Worcester Police after they stopped a car near the intersection of Main and Mill streets on Wednesday afternoon

Chasity studied at Worcester State University and was beginning her second Masters degree

The National Guardswoman was mother to daughters Zella, 11, and Isla, two

Nunez and her daughter was described as 'two beautiful souls' by her distraught family

Chasity Nunez during her service with the Connecticut National Guard

Police launched a manhunt for 'armed and dangerous' suspect Dejan Belnavis within hours of the murders on Wednesday 

Belnavis, who was seized in San Diego, sat on top of a Lamborghini sports car as he showed off his designer clothes on his Facebook page

Belnavis displays a taste for expensive vehicles on his social media pages

Chastity spent four years at Worcester State College before starting work at MIT last year and commencing her second Masters degree.

She had just completed four years with the Connecticut National Guard where she earned the National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon and Army Achievement Medal.

Her commanding officer Major Dave Pytlik told DailyMail.com she had been destined for success in both her civilian and military careers, and had more compassion than anyone he knew.

'Chasity was beloved by her fellow Soldiers in the 142nd Medical Company,' he added in a statement.

'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.'

Police described Belvanis as ‘armed and dangerous’ as they launched their manhunt, and both he and Mangual have lengthy criminal records.

Zella, who had been born prematurely and registered legally blind, was described as an ‘optimistic and creative soul’, by a friend of her mother.

‘She wanted to dabble in everything from painting, singing, dancing to skating,’ the friend wrote in an obituary.

‘She was kindhearted, a joy to be around and loved to teach us her latest TikTok dances.

‘She was a brilliant child set up for success because of all the love and encouragement behind her.’

Chasity’s two-year-old daughter Isla, was not in the car at the time of the murders and is being looked after by her father in Connecticut as her family tries to make sense of their loss.

‘I'm thankful to God she wasn't in the car,’ said Sims who was also Zella’s godfather, ‘It's a horrible silver lining, I guess.

‘Zella was just the best,’ he added, ‘So full of life, such a good little girl. She didn't deserve it at all.

The shooting horrified neighbors in the quiet Worcester street which was packed with children

Dozens of police evidence markers littered the street as the investigation began

He described his cousin as the ‘best mom she could possibly have been’.

‘She loved those girls with all her heart,’ he added.

Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty also paid tribute to Chasity as he congratulated police om ther arrest.

‘This brings great relief to Chasity and Zella's family, and also in that neighborhood and also to the Worcester Public Schools,’ he added.