Springfield Killing: Man Charged In Shootout That Left 1 Dead, 1 Wounded Springfield Killing: Man Charged In Shootout That Left 1 Dead, 1 Wounded
Springfield Killing: Man Charged In Shootout That Left 1 Dead, 1 Wounded A 37-year-old man recovering from a gunshot wound at Baystate Medical Center is charged with a Thursday, Aug. 31, killing, authorities said.  Thomas Whitlock, of Springfield, is charged with murder, carrying a firearm without a license, carrying a loaded firearm without a license, and discharging a gun within 500 feet of a building, Springfield police said.  The shooting happened at 9 a.m. on Leland Drive, where police found a man bleeding from a bullet wound, police said. Paramedics rushed him to Baystate Medical Center, where he died of his injuries.  Police have not …
Florida Man Accused Of Western Mass Shooting Pleads Not Guilty To 11 Charges: DA Florida Man Accused Of Western Mass Shooting Pleads Not Guilty To 11 Charges: DA
Florida Man Accused Of Western Mass Shooting Pleads Not Guilty To 11 Charges: DA A Florida man who sparked an intense manhunt Tuesday, Aug. 29, after police say he shot a man in Franklin County before he ran into the woods has pleaded not guilty to all the charges, authorities said. Gil Viera, 30, of Sunrise, Florida, is accused of shooting a man near 30 11th St. in the Turners Falls neighborhood known as The Patch just before 1 p.m., the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said.  Paramedics took the victim, a 30-year-old Athol man, to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, where he is expected to survive, authorities said.  Police from multipl…
Springfield Murder-Suicide: Girlfriend Of Shooter Busted On Gun Charges Tied To Shooting Springfield Murder-Suicide: Girlfriend Of Shooter Busted On Gun Charges Tied To Shooting
Springfield Murder-Suicide: Girlfriend Of Shooter Busted On Gun Charges Tied To Shooting The 32-year-old girlfriend of a Springfield man who killed a woman and her 10-year-old granddaughter faces nine charges after police say the gun he used in the Aug. 14 murder-suicide belonged to her.  Monica Sanchez, of Springfield, the girlfriend of Victor Nieves, was charged with eight counts of improper storage of a firearm and a single charge of possession of a high-capacity feeding device, the Hampden County District Attorney's Office. Police arrested her on Tuesday, Aug. 29.  Related: Community Rallies Around Springfield Family Rocked By Tragedy Investigators said Sanchez…
2 Shot During Caribbean Festival In Worcester, Day After Shootout At Boston Event: Police 2 Shot During Caribbean Festival In Worcester, Day After Shootout At Boston Event: Police
2 Shot During Caribbean Festival In Worcester, Day After Shootout At Boston Event: Police Dozens of people descended on Institute Park in Worcester on Sunday, Aug. 27, to enjoy the food and festivities of the annual Caribbean Festival. But many fled in fear after gunshots erupted nearby and injured two — including a teenager.  Paramedics treated a 15-year-old and 23-year-old for non-life-threatening injuries and took them to an area hospital, Worcester police said.  Officials then canceled the event and cleared the park to investigate the shooting.  Initial reports say the gunshots came from near Salisbury and Boynton Streets around 6 p.m. Police believe the…
Man Out On Bail Tried To Burn Down Springfield Home with Someone Inside: Police Man Out On Bail Tried To Burn Down Springfield Home with Someone Inside: Police
Man Out On Bail Tried To Burn Down Springfield Home with Someone Inside: Police A man wearing a court-ordered ankle monitor from a previous arrest from in cuffs again Thursday, Aug. 24, after police in Springfield said he tried to burn down a home with someone inside.  Lavonta Williams, 45, of Springfield, was out on bail from an arrest in August 2022 on guns and drug charges and an outstanding warrant for driving while high in Palmer, Springfield police said.  Emergency dispatchers sent firefighters to a home on Collins Street just after 9 a.m. Thursday after they received calls about a structure fire. Fire crews were able to put out the blaze.  A K9 t…
Alleged Drunk Driver Goes Airborne Before Hitting Western Mass Building: Police Alleged Drunk Driver Goes Airborne Before Hitting Western Mass Building: Police
Alleged Drunk Driver Goes Airborne Before Hitting Western Mass Building: Police A routine traffic stop for blowing through a stop sign turned into a chase that ended in a spectacular airborne crash early Thursday morning, Aug. 24, in Hampden County, authorities said.  Joseph Tetreault, age 30, of Springfield, faces a litany of charges, including operating under the influence of alcohol, failure to stop for a stop sign, failure to stop for police, and negligent operation of a motor vehicle, East Longmeadow police said.  An officer spotted Tetreault's Jeep just after 1:30 a.m. near the Center Square rotary and watched as the vehicle turned through without stopp…
Springfield Man Admits To Rape, Gets 3 Years In Prison: DA Springfield Man Admits To Rape, Gets 3 Years In Prison: DA
Springfield Man Admits To Rape, Gets 3 Years In Prison: DA A 32-year-old Springfield man told a Hampshire County court this week that he knew the woman he had sex with in 2021 was too drunk to consent, but he proceeded anyway, authorities said.  Michael Pope pleaded guilty to three counts of rape, two counts of indecent assault and battery, and one count of providing alcohol to a person under 21 years of age, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said.  Pope pleaded guilty to raping the Amherst woman in an apartment before the prosecution began, sparing the victim a trial, the prosecutor said.  Judge Jane Mulqueen se…
10-Year-Old Girl Killed In Springfield Rampage Died Protecting Her Family: Obit 10-Year-Old Girl Killed In Springfield Rampage Died Protecting Her Family: Obit
10-Year-Old Girl Killed In Springfield Rampage Died Protecting Her Family: Obit Aubrianna Lynn Serra loved princesses, dancing, and gymnastics, but more than anything, she loved her family. The 10-year-old died trying to protect them when a gunman entered her grandmother's Springfield home last week, her obituary said.  Aubrianna Lynn was shot on Aug. 14, along with her 12-year-old sister and grandmother, Kim Fairbanks, at a home at 174 Berkshire Ave., Springfield police said. Their upstairs neighbor Victor Nieves pulled the trigger before killing himself, police said.   Aubrianna Lynn died three days after at Boston Children's Hospital after days in intensive care. …
License Plate Leads To 2 Teens In Cuffs On Drug Charges In Springfield: Police License Plate Leads To 2 Teens In Cuffs On Drug Charges In Springfield: Police
License Plate Leads To 2 Teens In Cuffs On Drug Charges In Springfield: Police A routine traffic stop in Springfield nearly turned ugly on Sunday, Aug. 20, when a teenager refused to remove his hand from inside a bag with a loaded gun, police said.  Officers pulled over a car on Armory Street just before 7:30 p.m. after they noticed the vehicle didn't have a front license plate. When they approached, they could smell marijuana and saw several burnt roaches, scales, cash, and more than the legal amount of pot inside, Springfield police said.  Zaddiel Aponte-Perez, 18, of Springfield, was placed under arrest, authorities said.  His 17-year-old passenger …
Girl, 10, Shot In Springfield Murder-Suicide Has Died, Her Mother Says Girl, 10, Shot In Springfield Murder-Suicide Has Died, Her Mother Says
Girl, 10, Shot In Springfield Murder-Suicide Has Died, Her Mother Says The mother of a 10-year-old girl who was shot in Springfield earlier this week in a murder-suicide has died in the hospital, her mother announced on Facebook.  Aubrianna Lynn was shot on Monday, Aug. 14, along with her 12-year-old sister and grandmother, Kim Fairbanks, at their home at 174 Berkshire Ave., Springfield police said. Their upstairs neighbor Victor Nieves, who knew the family well, pulled the trigger before killing himself, police said.   Stephanie Croteau, the girl's mother, posted on Facebook that the 10-year-old was in heaven dancing with her grandmother, who was also killed…
Wanted Man Who Cut Off Ankle Monitor Caught Within 15 Minutes After Western Mass Stabbing: Cops Wanted Man Who Cut Off Ankle Monitor Caught Within 15 Minutes After Western Mass Stabbing: Cops
Wanted Man Who Cut Off Ankle Monitor Caught Within 15 Minutes After Western Mass Stabbing: Cops A 26-year-old man out on bail for a firearms charge didn't make it very far after he cut off his ankle monitoring bracelet earlier this week, authorities said. In fact, Springfield police caught him in under 15 minutes hiding in someone's garage less than a quarter mile away. Shaquan Morales, of Springfield, was arrested just after 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 13, on Sycamore Street, Springfield police said.  Officers had been called to Edgewood Street for a report of a stabbing. When they arrived, police found the victim and Morales, authorities said. Morales bolted at the sight o…
2 Guilty Of 2020 Stabbing In Western Mass; Both Awaiting Trial For Home Invasion: DA 2 Guilty Of 2020 Stabbing In Western Mass; Both Awaiting Trial For Home Invasion: DA
2 Guilty Of 2020 Stabbing In Western Mass; Both Awaiting Trial For Home Invasion: DA Two men with lengthy criminal histories were convicted this week of stabbing a man in 2020 during a fight in Springfield, officials said.  Carlos Cuba, 33, of West Springfield, and Khair Abdul-Raheem, 34, of East Longmeadow, were found guilty of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon on Monday, Aug. 14, the Hampden County District Attorney announced Thursday. Abdul-Raheem was also found guilty of breaking and entering a vehicle in the daytime.  The crime-causing duo was accused of stabbing a 22-year-old on July 26, 2020. Springfield officers were called to Mercy Med…