Salem State Student From Worcester Killed In Early Morning Shooting

UPDATED 5 p.m.

SALEM, MA — An 18-year-old Salem State University student-athlete was shot to death in his car on Forest Avenue early Wednesday morning, according to Salem police, the Essex County District Attorney's Office and the school.

In a joint statement released mid-morning on Wednesday, Salem Police Chief Lucas Miller, Essex DA Paul Tucker and Salem State President John Keenan said Carl Hens Beliard, 18, of Worcester, was found shot in a car after police were called for a reported shooting at 22 Forest Street near the school campus at about 1:30 a.m.

The statement said Beliard was rushed to Salem Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

"This senseless gun violence is tragic not only for the victim's family but for the SSU community and beyond," Tucker said. "State Police detectives assigned to my office are working closely with the Salem Police Department and Salem State University officials to identify and bring the person
responsible to justice."

Worcester North High School Principal Sam FanFan confirmed that Beliard was a graduate of the school and a member of the 2023 state championship basketball team. Beliard was also a member of the Salem State men's basketball team and was a sport and movement major.

Both Salem police and Salem State campus police said that based on the preliminary investigation there is not believed to be an ongoing threat to the public on Wednesday.

"Our hearts are very much with the Beliard family and the Salem State University family," Miller said. "Violence such as this has no place in Salem, and we will pursue the perpetrators with all of our ability and determination."

Salem State University President John Keenan said the Salem State community was grieving the student's death on Wednesday.

"As both the Salem State president and a college dad, this tragedy is heartbreaking for all in our community and every parent's worst nightmare," he said.

Keenan said counseling services would be made available to students in the upcoming days.

"While this sort of tragedy has an impact on our entire campus community, this news will be especially difficult for his teammates, classmates and fellow residents of Marsh Hall," Keenan said.

A makeshift memorial was set up at the site of the shooting with the players on the men's basketball team walking over to the memorial and standing shoulder-to-shoulder for a few moments of silence for their teammate.

According to media reports, multiple gunshots were heard early in the morning overnight on Halloween and a car crashed into a retaining wall at 22 Forest Avenue near Lussier Street.

Traffic was diverted from the area overnight with the investigation ongoing on Wednesday.

Police used K9s during the afternoon search for the suspect, who remained at large as of Wednesday afternoon.

"On behalf of the city of Salem, our hearts go out to the Beliard family and to the Salem State University community," Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo said. "I'm grateful to the Salem Police Department, Massachusetts State Police, District Attorney's office, and SSU Police for all of their swift action in response to this terrible act of violence, and I'm hopeful that their efforts will quickly bring the responsible party to justice for this crime."