Earlier today, Springfield was rattled by gunfire, sparking a high-drama chase and the subsequent arrest of a local man. Daniel Mercado, 26, faced consequences after Springfield Police apprehended him for a series of serious offenses. According to the Springfield Police Department, Mercado was booked following a frantic pursuit that culminated in a crash and a failed attempt to escape.
The showdown began after a disturbance report at a Belmont Avenue bar around 1:40 a.m. led officers to multiple ShotSpotter alerts, indicating gunshots in the neighborhood. Shortly after their arrival, police engaged in a fast chase with the recklessly driven vehicle of Mercado, which crashed into a light pole on Pomona Street. Mercado attempted to evade the cops in a foot chase that ensued, during which he was observed clinging to an illegal firearm.
In a statement obtained by the Springfield Police Department, it was detailed how Mercado discarded the gun before failing to clear a fence that stood in his way. Officers caught up with him as he threw a second item over the fence—later found to be a 10-round magazine for the gun—before they apprehended the suspect.
Police laid out an extensive list of charges against Mercado, including carrying a loaded firearm without a license, possession of a defaced firearm during the commission of a felony, and improper storage of a firearm. After crashing, fleeing the scene of a property damage accident, and discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building, Mercado also faces the music for the reckless operation of a motor vehicle.
