New Bedford Man Arrested for Fatal Shooting at Morna Lounge and Grill

NEW BEDFORD (WBSM) — An arrest has been made in Saturday’s homicide at the Morna Lounge and Grill in New Bedford’s Near North End.

Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced this morning that Danielson Varela, 19, of New Bedford was arrested Sunday night in connection with the fatal shooting of Cristiano Macedo, 27, of New Bedford.

Two women in their 20s were also struck by gunfire as well.

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Varela is charged with first degree murder, unlawful possession of a firearm, carrying a loaded firearm and two counts of assault and battery with a firearm.

He was previously arrested in February 2024 for a shooting that took place outside of a convenience store in New Bedford's South End.

Quinn said Varela will be arraigned this morning in New Bedford District Court on the new charges.

The Morna Lounge has been the site of multiple violent incidents in recent years. On Saturday, Mayor Jon Mitchell announced he and Police Chief Paul Oliveira “will urge the City’s licensing board to hold accountable any establishment where there has been a pattern of police incidents, including the bar where (Saturday’s) incident took place.”