Yesterday, Holyoke Police Chief Brian Keenan announced the arrest of a suspect in connection with a shooting that had occurred days prior. In an operation that involved the Holyoke Police Narcotics Bureau, the DEA, and the Hampden County Narcotics Task Force/Safe Unit, law enforcement officials were able to locate and apprehend Andrew Brito, a 31-year-old resident of Holyoke. According to a social media post by the Holyoke Police Department, the arrest was the culmination of efforts by detectives to close in on Brito, who was observed by a Detective around Beech and Sargent Streets yesterday.
The arrest took place at approximately 6:30 p.m. near 400 Beech Street, where officers not only captured Brito but also recovered baggies of suspected cocaine and crack-cocaine—weighing around five grams—as well as more than $300 in cash. Brito, who has a previous conviction for discharging a firearm in 2018, is now facing multiple charges including discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building, assault to murder, and possession with the intent to distribute a Class B drug. It appears that Brito was also just about to rejoin the criminal world as evidenced by the narcotics and money found during his arrest.
The incident that put Brito on the radar occurred last Saturday when Holyoke officers responded to a ShotSpotter activation near 291 Pine Street. Emerged from this encounter were shell casings, evidence of property damage, and accounts that a bullet had narrowly missed hitting a bystander.
