Springfield was the scene of a police response following a shooting incident that left a juvenile male wounded yesterday afternoon. In a statement released by the Springfield Police Department, it was revealed that the victim had sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was found on the 100 block of William Street after officers were called to the area of Main and Union Streets around 4:00 p.m.
The situation is believed to have escalated from a fight, with the shooting reportedly taking place near Main and Winthrop Streets. In the aftermath, authorities were informed that suspects had fled the scene and entered a property on the 0-100 block of Acushnet Avenue. Seeking to quickly apprehend the individuals, members of the Springfield Police made the decision to quickly enter the home after obtaining permission to conduct a search.
Inside, officers discovered two individuals, Roberto Mercado and Christopher Cruz, hiding in the basement. Neither man was a resident of the property. Following their discovery, both men were arrested; however, as of the latest information, they have not been charged in connection with the shooting itself. The investigation, led by Captain Trent Duda, is still active.
Meanwhile, the charges piled against the two men are significant, with Mercado facing counts of Breaking and Entering and Trespassing, while Cruz is additionally charged with two arrest warrants for a variety of offenses, including Assault & Battery, Malicious Destruction of Property, and Receiving a Stolen Motor Vehicle, among others.
