Woman Shot In Car In Lowell: 3 Charged, Main Suspect Still Loose

LOWELL, MA – Three people have been charged with intimidating a witness and two of them are also charged with helping the man police believe to have been responsible for shooting 23-year-old Deija Mendez in a car last week outside a Coral Street home last week escape.

The three have also been charged in connection with lying to police during the investigation into Mendez's death.

Around 3:30 p.m. on June 23 someone called Lowell police to report someone was shot on Coral Street in Lowell. When police got there, they found Mendez, of Boston, behind the steering wheel of a black Chevrolet Tahoe with a gunshot wound to the head. She was pronounced dead shortly after.

After the initial investigation, authorities charged three people with intimidation of a witness, including Angel Garcia, 29 of Lowell. Devine McKinney, 21 of Lowell, has been charged with intimidation of a witness and accessory after the fact to assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and Selena Simonphone, 22, of Lowell, has been charged with intimidation of a witness and accessory after the fact to assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

McKinney and Simonphone have also been charged in connection with helping Xavier DeJesus - the man police believe shot Mendez - to evade police after the shooting.

DeJesus, is still on the loose, and has been charged with murder. He has also been charged with discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling, carrying a firearm without a license and possession of ammunition without an FID card in connection with the fatal shooting.

DeJesus is described as being approximately 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighing about 140 pounds. Police said the public should not attempt to approach him but should dial 911 or contact Lowell Police at 978-459-8477 .

Authorities said DeJesus may have known the Mendez and the shooting, and there may have been a dispute over the car.

23-Year-Old Woman Fatally Shot In Car In Lowell