Suspect in March New Bedford shooting murder arraigned

FALL RIVER, Mass. (WLNE) — The suspect accused of the shooting murder of a New Bedford woman in March was arraigned Thursday in Fall River Superior Court, according to a statement from the office of Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III.

Wilo Morales-Colon, 49, of New Bedford, was arraigned on charges of first-degree murder and carrying a firearm.

The incident occurred on March 4, when police say Morales-Colon shot Karina Martinez-Ortiz, 32, outside her Bolton Street apartment in New Bedford.

New Bedford police and EMS personnel responded to the residence at 6:20 p.m. for reports of a woman lying in the first floor hallway bleeding.

Life-saving measures were attempted on Martinez-Ortiz and she was transported to Saint Luke’s Hospital where she was pronounced deceased from multiple gunshot wounds.

Massachusetts and New Bedford police obtained an arrest warrant for Morales-Colon on March 5, having learned that he and the victim were neighbors in the Bolton Street building and had a past relationship.

Morales-Colon was tracked to Springfield, Massachusetts where he was arrested on March 6.

According to police, Morales-Colon confessed to the murder of Martinez-Ortiz once taken into custody and also told police where they could find the murder weapon.

The gun was later recovered from Morales-Colon’s vehicle.

Morales-Colon’s case is next scheduled for pretrial conference at Fall River Superior Court on July 14.