SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) – A Springfield police officer is recovering from gunshot wounds suffered during a series of shootings by suspects in two separate vehicles Wednesday evening. We are told that the police officer, whose perpetrators have not yet been identified, was shot in the face and leg.
Springfield Police Superintendent Larry Akers said the seven-year veteran was taken to the hospital in serious condition, but he believes the officer will pull through.
“I’m a little emotional because I care about my officers,” Akers said.
It all started in the Mason Square neighborhood on Wednesday evening. Springfield police said that at 10:40 p.m., members of their firearms investigation unit were conducting an investigation on College Street when shots were fired at them from a Honda Civic. Nobody was hit.
Two minutes later, at the nearby intersection of State Street and Hunter Place, shots were fired at an unmarked police car coming from a Jeep Cherokee. Again, no one was injured.
However, a minute later, the shooters in the Jeep turned their attention to another police officer traveling on State Street, who was on his way to work. He was shot in the face and leg and rushed to hospital.
Meanwhile, two MassDOT employees on the South End Bridge were injured. One of them was seriously injured when he was hit by the fleeing Honda Civic in the first shooting scene.
Springfield Police responded quickly and were able to locate the Civic in the Riverview Terrace area. Three people inside the car were arrested and four weapons were seized on the I-91 ramp and the Jeep was located at a home on Randall Place. Four suspects were arrested at the scene and three weapons were recovered.
Akers shared an update on the officer’s condition. “He was taken to hospital where he is in serious condition, but we expect him to survive without problems,” he said.
We now know that the officer was transferred to a hospital in Boston for treatment. Springfield Police are asking the officer not to be identified at this time, to respect the family’s privacy, but we do know he is a seven-year veteran of the force, recipient of the Medal of Service valor in 2023 and that he is the father of a police officer.
“The son of the injured officer is a police officer in another jurisdiction,” Springfield Deputy Police Chief Steven Kent said. “His department intervened. They brought the family here last night to go to the hospital to be with the injured officer. They deserve credit, they have also stepped up their efforts.
Akers said Springfield police will continue to provide surveillance while one of their own recovers.
“My prayers go out to our officer. His family, DOT workers and everyone who was injured during this ordeal, but we don’t stop. We will continue to fight. “The Springfield Police Department will be there,” Akers noted.
Those arrested on various gun-related charges include:
- Robert Willis III, 18, of Springfield
- Alberto Torres, 18, of Springfield
- A 17 year old minor
- Isaac Font, 18, of Springfield
- Dwight Clarke, 26, of Springfield
- A 16 year old minor
- Jaime Griffin, 31, of Springfield
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