Massachusetts

Massachusetts Man Pleads Guilty to Shooting Man, Burning Body

A Massachusetts man charged with fatally shooting another man and then participating in a conspiracy with seven others to cover up the killing and burn the victim's body has been held without bail.

Nerkin Omar Morales, of Northampton, pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Hampshire Superior Court to multiple charges including murder in the death of 44-year-old Daniel Cruz.

Prosecutors say the 22-year-old Morales shot Cruz three times during an argument at a Northampton apartment complex in March.

They say Morales and the others then plotted to conceal the shooting by cleaning up blood, hiding the gun, disposing of the victim's clothing, and then waiting until dark to take Cruz's body to Hatfield where it was set on fire.

Morales' lawyer reserved the right to seek bail at a later date.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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