The 10-year-old girl killed in a shooting in her Hamilton home last week, allegedly committed by her mother’s boyfriend, was a fourth-grade student named Evangelina Velasquez.
Velasquez died in her Henry Street home with her mother, Claribel Torres, 42.
Torres’ boyfriend, Fernando Mercado, also 42, allegedly shot them before taking his own life with the gun.
Multiple online tributes identified the three found dead in the home. The Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed their identities but declined to comment, saying the investigation was ongoing.
“My only daughter. Strong like me,” the girl’s father, Bladimir Velasquez, told Action News in Philadelphia. “She was always very clever.” His said his daughter loved to swim and stay active.
Bladimir Velasquez said he previously dated Claribel Torres.
Hamilton police officers found all three dead inside the Henry Street home after responding to a 911 call dialed at 4 a.m. on June 5.
The residential street runs parallel to Lalor Street and a few blocks south of it, off Route 129 near the Trenton border.
“Our community is grieving an unimaginable tragedy involving the untimely deaths of three people, including a 10 year old girl. On behalf of Hamilton Township, I extend my prayers to their family members, friends, and neighbors,” township Mayor Jeff Martin said in a statement.
He said the township school district would be providing grief counseling to anyone affected by the tragedy. And said that anyone who might be impacted by relationship abuse can call 1-800-799-SAFE for help.
Editor’s Note: The New Jersey Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-572-SAFE (7233).
Stories by Kevin Shea
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Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com