Springfield Police Officer Pries Illegal Loaded Firearm Away from Suspect
Springfield, Mass. — On Sunday March 17th at approximately 2:30 a.m. Springfield Police Officers seized an illegal firearm and arrested 23-year-old Jerry Lopez Jr. near the intersection of Cedar and Pine Streets.
About ten minutes earlier, officers responded to Pine Street for a ShotSpotter Activation. Officers then received additional information about the description of the shooting suspect. About a block away, officers located a subject, later identified as Lopez Jr., who matched the description of the suspect.
Lopez Jr. initially listened to officers’ commands, but then took off on foot. After a brief foot pursuit, officers were able to catch up to Lopez Jr. at the intersection of Cedar and Pine Streets. As officers attempted to detain him, Lopez Jr. took a firearm out of his jacket pocket and refused to let go of it. An officer was able to eventually to gain control of the firearm and toss it to the side.
Officers then were able to place Lopez Jr. under arrest. The recovered firearm was loaded and reported stolen out of New Haven, Connecticut.
23-year-old Jerry Lopez Jr. of Springfield is charged with:
- Carrying a Firearm without a License
- Carrying a Loaded Firearm without a License
- Possession of Ammunition without an FID Card
- Receiving Stolen Property More than $1200
- Resisting Arrest
