Nehemiah Cepeda was 14 when he was shot and killed in his Brockton, Massachusetts home on March 14, 2023, just before 2 a.m. According to charging documents, Nehemiah was shot in a closet and rushed to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. His mother, 39-year-old Felicia Cepeda Williams, was also shot once in the chest and taken to Boston Medical Center in critical condition.

Prosecutors allege the shooter was Williams’ long-term on-and-off boyfriend, Justelino Resende, who was charged with one count of murder, possession of a firearm, and two counts of assault with intent to murder. Resende pleaded not guilty at arraignment and was held without bail. Authorities say the shooting followed a night of escalating violence between Resende and Williams; the couple reportedly had multiple prior 911 calls against each other though no restraining order had been issued.

Nehemiah was a ninth-grade student at Huntington School who liked movies, Legos and action figures, video games, and music by artists such as Bruno Mars and U2. He is survived by both parents, grandparents, a brother, seven sisters, and an extended family. If anyone has information about the incident or knew Nehemiah, please come forward to help the investigation.