An 18-year-old was arrested early Thursday after Springfield police say he squeezed off several shots into the air just steps from the downtown MGM complex, turning a quiet overnight stretch near East Columbus Avenue and State Street into an impromptu shooting scene. Officers later tracked him down by the casino’s parking garage and seized a firearm capable of holding 18 rounds.
How Officers Zeroed In on the Suspect
According to the Springfield Police Department, officers were dispatched at about 12:55 a.m. Thursday to East Columbus Avenue after a shots-fired call. The department’s Real-Time Analysis Center provided an image that helped investigators identify a suspect.
The department says its Gaming Enforcement Unit then located the man near the casino parking garage, where officers recovered the firearm. Police identified the arrestee as 18-year-old Xavier Pagan of Holyoke and say he was booked on charges including carrying a firearm without a license, improper storage of a high-capacity firearm, possession of a high-capacity magazine, discharging a firearm near a highway, possession of ammunition without an FID card, carrying a firearm on a public way and breach of the peace while armed.
Charges Pack Heavy Time Under State Law
Massachusetts treats unlicensed firearms and large-capacity feeding devices as serious offenses. As outlined on the Massachusetts General Court website, possession of a large-capacity feeding device without a license can carry a state-prison term of two and a half to ten years, while other firearm and ammunition counts carry separate penalties. The ultimate exposure depends on the specific charges and a defendant’s prior record.
Arrest Unfolds in the Heart of Downtown
The department's post places the arrest near the casino parking garage off East Columbus Avenue. MGM Springfield lists its address as One MGM Way and notes the garage is accessible from East Columbus Avenue, putting the recovery squarely in the city’s downtown casino district.
What Happens Next
Police say the teen was arrested and booked on the listed charges, per the Springfield Police Department Facebook post. No arraignment or bail information was included in the update, and further case details are expected once formal filings are made.
