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Teen Busted In Fatal Shooting Of Salem State Basketball Player: DA

Police in Essex County have arrested an 18-year-old man and charged him with fatally shooting Carl-Hens Beliard in a car early Wednesday morning, Nov. 1, authorities said. 

Carl-Hens Beliard accepts an award after he helped lead Worcester's North High School Polar Bears to a state championship earlier this year. Beliard was shot and killed on Halloween night. 

Carl-Hens Beliard accepts an award after he helped lead Worcester's North High School Polar Bears to a state championship earlier this year. Beliard was shot and killed on Halloween night. 

Photo Credit: North High School

Missael Pena Canela, of Salem, is charged with murder following the shooting near 22 Forest Avenue, the Essex County District Attorney said. 

Police were called to the area just before 1:30 a.m. and found Beliard bleeding from a bullet wound. Paramedics rushed him to Salem Hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead, the prosecutor said. 

Police did not say what sparked the shooting. 

Carl-Hens Beliard was a standout basketball player and was just days away from starting his first college game when he was killed. The Worcester native was an integral part of the North High School Polar Bears D1 championship earlier this year, the first in the program's history. 

"Carl was a wonderful young man who was continuing his education at Salem State and joined the Salem State Vikings basketball team after a summer of enjoying all the accolades of his championship status," the team posted on Facebook. "We are processing this all, and his teammates are currently with appropriate professionals considering the gravity of this news.

"We love you, Carl. RIP and Godspeed, young man."

Salem police are investigating the shooting. 

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