Tyrese Harris, age 22, of Manchester

MANCHESTER — An autopsy conducted yesterday by Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Jennie Duval determined that Dzemal Cardakovic, who was gunned down in the middle of South Willow Street Saturday afternoon, died of a gunshot wound to the face into the neck, and the manner of his death is homicide, according to authorities.

The man accused of killing Cardakovic, Tyrese Harris, 22, waived arraignment in court Monday. He is charged with two counts of second-degree murder, and remains in jail pending his next court appearance, which is a dispositional conference scheduled for Jan. 17.

Meanwhile, court documents obtained by Manchester Information indicate Harris was arrested on Saturday on a drug charge after Manchester police had him and a woman under surveillance following the fatal shooting on South Willow Street.

Officers assigned to the MPD SWAT team went to Bodwell Road to look for Harris, who had domestic ties with a woman who lived at the address, and who by then was a person of interest in the fatal shooting.

At 5:52 p.m., officers observed Harris and the woman leave the address in a Kia Forte.

Undercover officers followed the vehicle, which traveled on Bodwell Road, Cohas Avenue, and onto South Mammoth. At one point, the driver pulled over and put the hazards on. Officers passed the vehicle but remained in visual contact.

The vehicle was observed making several traffic violations, including straddling the white line and making an improper turn onto Cilley Road. Based on the information that possibly connected Harris to the shooting, a high-risk traffic stop was executed in the Cilley Road and Belmont Street area.

Police ordered Harris to shut off the vehicle and put his hands out the window. He was then ordered to walk backward, at which time he was placed in handcuffs.

Harris was asked if he had any weapons or dangerous items on his person, and he told an officer he had a baggie of cocaine in his pocket, the report states.

It was later verified the baggie contained 1.8 grams of cocaine, police said.

Harris and the woman were transported to Manchester police headquarters, where Harris was charged with possession of a controlled drug. He was later charged with two counts of second-degree murder for knowingly causing the death of Cardakovic, 45, by shooting him with a firearm; and alternatively, for recklessly causing the death of Cardakovic under circumstances manifesting an extreme indifference to the value of human life, to wit, Harris shot Cardakovic with a firearm.

The woman was detained but later released by police with no charges.

In 2018, Harris was charged with criminal mischief and pleaded guilty. In November 2019, he was charged with criminal threatening and was required to participate in mental health counseling, but was never sentenced to jail or prison.

Court records also indicate Harris listed his address as Bodwell Road while a Rockland Avenue address was listed on the bail order.

–By Telegraph contributor Jeffrey Hastings