Members of the Springfield Police Department’s Firearms Investigation Unit under the direction of Captain Brian Keenan seized three illegally possessed firearms and made three arrests after a shooting in the North End Wednesday afternoon.
At approximately 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday Springfield Police Officers responded to a ShotSpotter activation on the 2900 block of Main Street. Officers located 16 shell casings and an investigation revealed that three different individuals were shooting at a victim.
There was no property damage located from the incident.
Springfield Police Detectives reviewed video from the incident and members of the Firearms Investigation Unit immediately identified one of the shooters as Angel Santiago. Detectives in the Firearms Investigation Unit were able to locate Mr. Santiago on Webster Street around 5:00 p.m. Mr. Santiago was inside a parked car with two other individuals. Detectives arrested Mr. Santiago and detained the two individuals pending the investigation.
Detectives immediately located a firearm with a laser attachment on the car’s floorboard. This firearm was loaded with 15 rounds of ammunition. Detectives located 30 bags of heroin on Mr. Santiago, approximately 8 grams of cocaine and various pills.
One of the individuals detained, Israel Perez, had a loaded large capacity firearm in a bag he was wearing. Detectives also located 50 bags of heroin in the bag.
Inside the car Detectives located a third loaded firearm and various pills that were in a bag in reach of the third individual Mr. Olivera.
Mr. Santiago and Mr. Perez were both identified as shooters in the morning incident on Main Street. The investigation is ongoing.
“We recognized the need for this unit due to an increase in gun violence not just in our city but across the country. These arrests and the seizure of three illegally possessed firearms undoubtedly prevented additional violence. I am proud and encouraged by the work of this new unit in its first week and expect more positive outcomes in the future,” said Springfield Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood.
Mayor Domenic J. Sarno stated, “I am grateful to Commissioner Clapprood for implementing this new Firearms Investigation Unit and to our brave and dedicated men and women in blue for preventing additional violence by getting these guns off the street. Again, we have repeat violent offenders putting our residents and business community in harm’s way. In the name of public safety, again, I urge the courts to back all in our Springfield community in keeping them locked up so no family has to experience a tragedy.”
Springfield Police have arrested Mr. Santiago four different times on firearms charges. He was convicted of firearm and drug charges in February 2020 and in 2017 on firearms charges.
Mr. Perez was previously convicted of firearms charges in 2014 and 2017.
24 year old Angel Santiago of Springfield is charged with:
• Carrying a Firearm without a License – 2 Counts
• Carrying a Loaded Large Capacity Firearm on a Public Way
• Possession of a Large Capacity Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
• Carrying a Loaded Firearm on a Public Way
• Discharging a Firearm within 500 feet of a Building
• Assault to Murder
• Assault with a Dangerous Weapon
• Convicted Felon in Possession of a Firearm
• Carrying a Loaded Firearm without a License – 3rd Offense
• Conspiracy to Violate Drug Law
• Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class B Drug – Subsequent Offense
• Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class B Drug – Subsequent Offense
• Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class A Drug – Subsequent Offense
26 year old Israel Perez of Springfield is charged with:
• Carrying a Firearm without a License – 2 Counts
• Carrying a Loaded Large Capacity Firearm on a Public Way
• Possession of a Large Capacity Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
• Carrying a Loaded Firearm on a Public Way
• Discharging a Firearm within 500 feet of a Building
• Assault to Murder
• Assault with a Dangerous Weapon
• Convicted Felon in Possession of a Firearm
• Carrying a Loaded Firearm without a License – 3rd Offense
• Conspiracy to Violate Drug Law
• Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class B Drug
• Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class A Drug
• Possession of a Firearm with 1 Prior Violent/Drug Crime
25 year old Ricardo Olivera of Springfield is charged with:
• Carrying a Firearm without a License
• Carrying a Loaded Large Capacity Firearm on a Public Way
• Possession of a Large Capacity Firearm During the Commission of a Felony
• Conspiracy to Violate Drug Law
• Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class B Drug
• Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class B Drug
These are allegations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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