The Springfield Police Department successfully apprehended 31-year-old Tyler Harris on Sunday night, confiscating a loaded firearm allegedly used in a shooting minutes prior, according to officials. The incident was initially detected by a ShotSpotter activation in the 0-100 block of Darwell Street at around 10:30 p.m., leading officers to the scene where gunshots were reported to be fired from a back porch by Harris.
As officers converged on the location, they were met with the sound of three additional gunshots. The SPD tactically ascended the building's stairway, where Harris was reported by onlookers as the shooting suspect perched armed on the third floor. With strategic maneuvers, officers were able to convince Harris to surrender without further incident.
Springfield Police Department's official report details that upon gaining access to the building and confronting Harris, the officers recovered the weapon in question. Their subsequent investigation uncovered ballistic evidence like shell casings and projectiles inside the building.
Harris now faces a list of charges, including four counts of discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building, three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, carrying a loaded firearm without a license, and possession of a large capacity firearm. Officers dispatched to respond to the incident swiftly apprehended Harris, who was armed and subsequently placed under arrest.
