Second Shooting Suspect to be Charged in Fernald Street Incident
Springfield, Mass. — Springfield Police Firearms Investigation Unit Detectives identified and have sought charges for the second shooting suspect in connection with a January 23rd incident on Fernald Street where two undercover Detectives were shot at more than a dozen times and their unmarked cruiser was struck.
48-year-old Derek Johnson Sr., who was previously arrested in connection with this incident, will now be facing additional charges. Johnson Sr. is currently being held at the Hampden County Correctional Center after being found dangerous at a hearing. Johnson Sr. will be brought to court to be arraigned on these new charges which include:
- Firearm-Armed Assault to Murder (Two Counts)
- Assault with a Dangerous Weapon (Two Counts)
- Malicious Destruction of Property More than $1200 (Two Counts)
- Malicious Damage to a Motor Vehicle (Two Counts)
- Discharging a Firearm within 500 feet of a Building
- Carrying a Firearm without a License – 2nd Offense
- Carrying a Loaded Firearm without a License
- Convicted Felon in Possession of a Firearm
- Firearm Violation with 3 Prior Violent/Drug Crimes
Johnson Sr. was arrested on January 30th at the La Quinta Hotel on Congress Street and initially charged with:
- Cocaine Trafficking 100-200 Grams
- Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class D Drug
- Arrest Warrant
– Possession of a Firearm without an FID Card
– Receiving a Firearm without a Defaced Serial Number
– Improper Storage of a Firearm
– Possession of Ammunition without an FID Card
The warrant was in connection with the Fernald Street incident. Johnson Sr. was arrested with Dwayne Johnson. Inside the hotel room, Detectives seized more than 100 grams of cocaine and marijuana. Dwayne Johnson is the other suspect alleged to have shot at the undercover Detectives.
Around 7:00 p.m. Thursday January 23rd, members of the Springfield Police Firearms Investigation Unit were conducting surveillance in the area of Fernald Street when they were shot at more than a dozen times. No officers were struck, but their unmarked cruiser was hit. Detectives do not believe the suspects knew they were shooting at the police.
This led to a two-plus hour search for suspects in the North Branch Parkway area. Later that evening, Detectives located a suspect, later identified as Christopher O’Bara, at a home on the 0-100 block of Lancaster Street. Detectives then applied for and were granted a search warrant for the home. During a search of the home, Detectives seized a large-capacity firearm, shell casings, and loose ammunition. In addition to those items, Detectives recovered more than 30 keys or key fobs that are suspected to be stolen, a license plate that had been reported stolen and other documents that were reported stolen. Auto-Theft Detectives are investigating the recovered keys and additional charges may be brought forward. After the search around 3:30 a.m. Friday, Detectives placed O’Bara under arrest.
Detectives also requested and were granted a search warrant for the home on Fernald Street, which led to the seizure of a second firearm. On Friday January 24th, officers located a third firearm in the area of Jennings Street which is in the area of where the search for the suspects took place.
Around 12:00 p.m. on Saturday January 25th, members of the Springfield Police Firearms Investigation Unit (FIU) under the direction of Sgt. David Robillard arrested 20-year-old Damian Scott on the 200 block of Carew Street. Scott was under investigation by the Springfield Police Firearms Investigation Unit for his alleged role in this incident. Scott is also a suspect is numerous car thefts in the city and at the time had four outstanding warrants in connection with auto-thefts in addition to a warrant for cocaine trafficking.
A 17-year-old juvenile male was also arrested on Fernald Street on January 30th and is facing firearms charges.
Since these arrests, Auto-Thefts and Car-Breaks have decreased in the city by 42% from the beginning of the year.