(Bridgeport, CT – Sept 25, 2013) – Police have arrested a man wanted for a weekend shooting on Clarence Street.

Officers Anthony Caiazzo and Keith Hanson  conducted a motor vehicle stop Monday evening in the area of Arctic and Helen streets. Both officers immediately recognized the passenger, Ernest Morales, 22, of 42 Clarence Street, as the shooting suspect. Officers during roll call at the start of their shift had been shown a picture of him.

Morales complied when police told him to step out of the car and stated that he “was just going to turn myself in.”

Morales was wanted for shooting a neighbor on Sunday night.

The victim, identified as Joseph Vernon, 31, was found by police at 54 Clarence St. suffering from a gunshot wound to the left cheek Sunday.

He was taken to Bridgeport Hospital and later transferred to Yale-New Haven Hospital.

During the investigation, detectives learned that the suspect is a neighbor of the victim. Detectives learned that the suspect pulled out a gun and fired several shots inside the home. Vernon was struck at least once.

Morales was held on $500,000 bond on charges of first-degree assault and criminal attempt at first-degree assault.