New Bedford Man Arrested for Fatal Shooting of His Neighbor

UPDATE: Morales-Colon was ordered held without bail.

NEW BEDFORD (WBSM) — A suspect has been arrested and charged with murder for the fatal shooting of a New Bedford woman earlier this week.

Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced today that Wilo Morales-Colon, 49, of New Bedford has been arrested and charged in the fatal shooting of Karina Martinez-Ortiz.

New Bedford Police responded to 438 Bolton Street at about 6:20 p.m. on March 4 for a report of a bloody female lying in a first-floor hallway.

They arrived to find Martinez-Ortiz, 32, lying on the floor in front of her apartment, suffering from gunshot wounds. She was later pronounced deceased at St. Luke’s Hospital.

READ MORE: New Bedford Woman Victim of Fatal Shooting

Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office and New Bedford Police secured an arrest warrant last evening for Morales-Colon for the charges of murder and unlawful carrying of a firearm.

Morales-Colon was located early this morning in Springfield and taken into custody. The D.A.’s Office said Morales-Colon was a neighbor of Martinez-Ortiz in the same building, and that the two had “a past personal relationship.”

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Morales-Colon is expected to be arraigned in New Bedford District Court this afternoon.

“I am pleased with the efforts of all investigating agencies to quickly locate the defendant and bring him into custody,” D.A. Quinn said. “Thank you to the Massachusetts State Police and Homicide Prosecutors from my office, members of the New Bedford Police Department and the Diplomatic Security Service.”