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Police & Fire
Karl Exantus Guilty In 2019 Killing In Springfield; Will Spend Life In Prison Karl Exantus Guilty In 2019 Killing In Springfield; Will Spend Life In Prison
Karl Exantus Guilty In 2019 Killing In Springfield; Will Spend Life In Prison A 35-year-old Hampden County man who was found guilty of first-degree murder earlier this month was sentenced to life in prison without parole on Tuesday, June 27, authorities said.  Karl Exantus, of Springfield, was accused of shooting Alexis Martinez in a parking lot at Five Town Plaza as Martinez sat in his Jeep Compass in 2019, the Hampden County District Attorney's Office said.  Martinez died in that Cooley Street parking lot before he could get help.  Hampden DA Anthony Gulluni said he hopes the verdict and sentence will help ease the suffering of M…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
2 Weekend Shootings Leave 2 Dead, 2 Wounded In Western Mass 2 Weekend Shootings Leave 2 Dead, 2 Wounded In Western Mass
2 Weekend Shootings Leave 2 Dead, 2 Wounded In Western Mass Two men are dead, and two are recovering from gunshot wounds following two weekend shootings in Hampden County. Police do not believe they are linked.  The first happened around 5:45 p.m. in the 100 block of Spring Street in Springfield on Saturday, June 24, where police found two men suffering from bullet wounds, authorities said. They were rushed to Baystate Medical Center, where one died from his injuries, but the other only suffered non-life-threatening wounds, authorities said.  Hours later, Springfield police received a ShotSpotter alert near Temple and School streets j…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Prostitution Sting: 5 Busted Trying To Pay Springfield Cop For Sex Prostitution Sting: 5 Busted Trying To Pay Springfield Cop For Sex
Prostitution Sting: 5 Busted Trying To Pay Springfield Cop For Sex Police continued their assault on prostitution this week as they arrested five more Western Massachusetts men in an undercover "anti-John" operation, authorities said.  This is the second time in as many weeks Springfield Police Department officers have targeted men who try to pay for sex, as they busted 11 on Thursday, June 15.  The operation on Thursday, June 22, targeted the High Street area and the South End neighborhood after several residents had complained of drugs and prostitution, Springfield police said.  RELATED: 11 Men Busted In Undercover Prostitution Stin…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Man Dies Day After Being Shot In Western Mass; Police Seeking Tips Man Dies Day After Being Shot In Western Mass; Police Seeking Tips
Man Dies Day After Being Shot In Western Mass; Police Seeking Tips A man who was shot Monday afternoon, June 19, has died of his wounds, authorities said.  Police have not publicly identified the man yet until they notify the family.  The man was shot in the 600 block of State St, police said. Officers found him bleeding from a bullet wound after responding to a ShotSpotter alert just after 5 p.m.  Responders rushed him to an area hospital for treatment, where he later succumbed to his wounds.  Update: The gunshot victim from the 600 block of State St. succumbed to his injuries at Baystate on Monday. The SPD Homicide Unit under the direction of Cap…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Double Murder: Teen Charged With Killing Man Inside Western Mass Apartment Double Murder: Teen Charged With Killing Man Inside Western Mass Apartment
Double Murder: Teen Charged With Killing Man Inside Western Mass Apartment A week after two men were found shot to death inside a Hampden County apartment, police arrested a teenager they say pulled the trigger.  Adrian Perez, 19, of Springfield, was arrested on Wednesday, June 14, and charged with murder, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building, carrying a gun without a license, and carrying a loaded firearm without a license, Springfield police said.  He was being held without bond, the Hampden County District Attorney said.  RELATED: Police ID Victims In Springfield Double Homicide; Friends Mourn Their Loss Alexander Rodriguez, 19, …

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Man Shot To Death In Springfield; Police Asking For Tips On Weekend Slaying Man Shot To Death In Springfield; Police Asking For Tips On Weekend Slaying
Man Shot To Death In Springfield; Police Asking For Tips On Weekend Slaying Police in Hampden County are soliciting tips from the public after a man was shot and killed over the weekend in Springfield.  Officers received a ShotSpotter alert in the 300 block of Orange Street around 2:30 a.m. on Sunday, Springfield police said in a tweet. Responders found a man suffering from a bullet wound, and authorities rushed him to Baystate Medical Center for emergency treatment.  Unfortunately, doctors couldn't save his life, and he succumbed to his injuries soon after arriving at the hospital.  At approximately 2:30 a.m. officers responded to a ShotSpotter activation on …

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Out On Bail: Teen Arrested For Third Time On Gun Charges In Springfield Out On Bail: Teen Arrested For Third Time On Gun Charges In Springfield
Out On Bail: Teen Arrested For Third Time On Gun Charges In Springfield A Hampden County teenager who was wearing an ankle monitor from his last arrest was caught for a third time on firearm charges this week, authorities said.  Jahiem Sutherland, 19, of Springfield, was wearing an ankle monitor as he was out on bail on an illegal firearms charge when officers arrested him Wednesday evening, June 7, Springfield police said.  Officers found an illegal large-capacity, loaded ghost gun on Sutherland with an illegal modification called a Glock switch, which makes it fully automatic, authorities said.  This is the third time police have arrested him …

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
2 Bodies Found In Springfield Apartment 2 Bodies Found In Springfield Apartment
2 Bodies Found In Springfield Apartment Police in Hampden County are investigating two bodies found overnight in an apartment in Springfield.  Officers were called to the 200 block of Union Street just after midnight on Wednesday, June 7, when someone discovered the corpses, a Springfield police spokesperson said in a tweet.  Related: Police Shot At While Investigating Homicide in Springfield Police have released few details of the find or what may have caused the deaths. Though, officials did call it as a homicide.  Investigators ask anyone with information to call Springfield detectives at 413-787-6355. The SPD Homicide …

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Drunk Driver Backs Into Cop Car During Springfield Stop, Had Gun In Vehicle: Police Drunk Driver Backs Into Cop Car During Springfield Stop, Had Gun In Vehicle: Police
Drunk Driver Backs Into Cop Car During Springfield Stop, Had Gun In Vehicle: Police A 33-year-old Hampden County man threw a few beers back and then backed into a police cruiser over the Memorial Day weekend while carrying an unlicensed pistol, police allege.  Freddie Rivera is facing several charges that stem from an early morning Monday, May 29, arrest, Springfield police said.  Officers noted Rivera's car was swerving over the double-yellow lines on Main Street just before 1 a.m. and pulled him over on Bancroft Street, authorities said. But during the stop, Rivera inexplicably put his vehicle in reverse and hit the bumper of the unmarked police cruiser, authorities sai…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Red-Haired Bail Violator Busted With Pink-Handled Pistol In Springfield: Police Red-Haired Bail Violator Busted With Pink-Handled Pistol In Springfield: Police
Red-Haired Bail Violator Busted With Pink-Handled Pistol In Springfield: Police A man out on bail for gun charges from last year was arrested over the weekend on — shocker — more gun charges, police in Hampden County said.  Daniel Gonzalez, 20, faces a slew of charges after officers arrested him on Sunday, May 28, with a large-capacity pistol, Springfield police said.  Springfield police responded to a ShotSpotter Activation just after 9:30 p.m. near Malden and Grand streets. When officers arrived, they saw two men standing there who ran away when they spotted the cops, investigators said.  Police ran down one of the men near Oakland and Allen Streets a…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Man Shot In Western Mass, Police Searching For Shooter Man Shot In Western Mass, Police Searching For Shooter
Man Shot In Western Mass, Police Searching For Shooter A man was injured Thursday night in Springfield, and police are on the hunt for the shooter.  Police responded to the 900 block of Worthington Street after receiving a Shotspotter activation and found a man on the ground with a bullet wound, Springfield authorities said. Responders rushed him to Baystate Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.  Springfield detectives are investigating the shooting. 

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Over 500 Grams Of Cocaine Found During Western Mass Apartment Raid: Police Over 500 Grams Of Cocaine Found During Western Mass Apartment Raid: Police
Over 500 Grams Of Cocaine Found During Western Mass Apartment Raid: Police Authorities in Western Massachusetts uncovered more than 500 grams of cocaine and $27,000 in cash after raiding an apartment this week that resulted in three men being arrested. Members of the Springfield Police Firearms Investigation Unit were conducting an investigating with a man, identified as Carlos Vasquez, as the suspect, Springfield Police report. While detectives were conducting surveillance on the 0-100 block of Standish Street, they saw Vasquez complete a suspected drug deal with another man, identified as Andres Rivera.  This happened around 10 p.m. on Thursday, May 4, police …

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by David Cifarelli