A grim shadow was cast over a Christmas Day celebration in Cambridge this year, when an early morning fight escalated into a shooting incident, leaving two wounded. The Cambridge Police Department responded to a 9-1-1 call from Howard St. at around 3:20 am, as first reported by Hoodline. Officers arrived to find two individuals with gunshot wounds and provided life-saving treatment until EMS could transport the victims to local hospitals.
Details emerged as the investigation unfolded, with the Cambridge Police Department announcing the arrest of 34-year-old Nelson Portillo of Cambridge in connection with the shooting. According to the details provided by the department's social media post, it is alleged that Portillo discharged a firearm inside a residence, during a gathering, and consequently struck himself and another person.
The case has since seen Portillo facing multiple charges, including Assault & Battery with a Dangerous Weapon, Discharge of a Firearm within 500 Feet of a Building, and Carrying a Loaded Firearm without a License. The suspect has been arraigned in Cambridge District Court and will be held pending a dangerousness hearing. Officials have stated that the case will now be prosecuted by the Middlesex District Attorney's Office, confirming earlier beliefs that the incident was isolated and the public is not in current danger.
The Cambridge Police have continued their appeal for information. As of now, details about the argument that led to the shooting remain scant. The police reassured the community that their investigation has been thorough, stating, "Cambridge Police Detectives, in conjunction with the Massachusetts State Police and the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, have been actively investigating the circumstances surrounding this incident." Both victims have been treated and released from the hospital, easing concerns over the immediate aftermath of the violence, as mentioned on the Facebook post.
