Springfield Police Officers recovered firearm, make an arrest after shots fired on School Street

Springfield, Mass. — On Monday November 15th at approximately 8:15 p.m. Springfield Police Officers conducted a traffic stop on the 0-100 block of High Street due to the driver’s headlight being out.  As a crowd gathered the driver appeared to signal at an individual in the group.  A short time later officers heard several gunshots which led to their attention being diverted from the vehicle to investigate a ShotSpotter Activation.  Officers were able to locate three shell casings on the 0-100 block of School Street.

Officers then went to the Real-Time Analysis Center to review video.  After viewing the video, Officers believed the shooting was used as a distraction technique.  The shooter was identified as the individual who the driver was signaling at in the crowd.  Crime Analysts then relayed to officers that the suspect and two individuals got into a car on High Street.

Officers were able to locate this car and while waiting for assisting officers to conduct a traffic stop the car stopped on the 0-100 block of Woodside Terrace.  Officers saw an individual, later identified as Wilson Garcia, run from the backseat of the car.  After a short pursuit Garcia put his hands in the air and was detained.

The driver and front seat passenger of the car were also detained pending the investigation.  Officers were able to identify Garcia as the shooter from School Street.  Officers then located a loaded firearm in the back seat of the car.  Garcia was placed under arrest.

In August 2019, Springfield Police Officers arrested Garcia on firearms charges and he was convicted in 2020.

The driver and other passenger were released.  The driver will received a criminal complaint for operating an unregistered and uninsured motor vehicle.

28 year  old Wilson Garcia of Springfield is charged with:

  • Carrying a Firearm without a License
  • Carrying a Loaded Firearm without a License
  • Discharging a Firearm within 500 feet of a Building
  • Possession of a Firearm with a Defaced Serial Number
  • Convicted Felon in Possession of a Firearm