On a spring evening in Beverly, Massachusetts, the life of 21-year-old Christian Merced was cut short. Originally from Miami, Florida, the young man was in town on April 9, 2016, to visit his ailing grandmother and other family members. The tragic events unfolded at his brother's home on Ropes Street, where he was with a friend, 19-year-old Justice Galarza of Beverly.
Around 10:30 p.m., what began as friends handling a gun turned deadly.
A single gunshot echoed, striking Merced in the chest. In the frantic moments that followed, Merced’s brother attempted to rush him to Beverly Hospital, but their car was pulled over by the police en route. By the time he was transferred to an ambulance, it was too late. Christian Merced was pronounced dead at the hospital, leaving his family, including four siblings and his mother, to grapple with the sudden and devastating loss.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, Justice Galarza fled the scene. However, his flight was short-lived, as he later turned himself in to the Salem Police. He was subsequently arrested and charged with the murder of his friend. In addition to the murder charge, Galarza also faced charges of carrying a firearm without an FID card and discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling. He was arraigned in Salem District Court and ordered held without bail.
While the authorities pursued a murder charge, Merced's family, including his sister, expressed a belief that the shooting was a tragic accident. They pointed to Galarza's decision to turn himself in as evidence that he did not intend to kill his friend. The defense attorney for Galarza also argued that the shooting was an accident, stating that the two young men had been "playing with a gun" when it unintentionally discharged.
