A shocking day for police in Springfield, Mass., saw Officer Nestor Santos hospitalized after being shot in the face and leg during a two-vehicle shooting spree by suspects in the city on Wednesday at night Santos is currently in a Boston-area hospital with a bullet fragment in the head. He has undergone surgery and although the doctors managed to save his eye, he will probably lose the sight in one eye. Several more surgeries are expected before he can be released. During this incident, seven suspects were arrested and seven illegal firearms were recovered, including an AR-15 style rifle.
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Police believe the shooters thought they were targeting a rival group, though the nature of the rivalry remains unclear. However, Springfield police on Thursday expressed concern about the increasing number of incidents of officers being shot. Mayor Domenic Sarno stated, “They feel they can do whatever they want. Not only to our brave and dedicated police officers, but to our residents and business community.” Emotions are running high for the mayor after a police officer was shot in the face and leg Wednesday night.
Springfield Police Superintendent Larry Akers said the injured officer, who is listed in serious condition, is expected to be OK. “I get a little emotional because I worry about my officers,” Akers said.
The officer was injured during a shootout with two vehicles full of suspects, starting in the area of ​​Mason Square. Springfield police said it began at 10:40 p.m. Wednesday when shots were fired at members of their firearms investigation unit on College Street from a Honda Civic. No one was hit. Two minutes later, at the intersection of State Street and Hunter Place, shots were fired at an unmarked police car from a Jeep Cherokee. Again, no one was hurt. But a minute later, those in the jeep turned their attention to another officer who was driving down State Street in his private car on his way to work, and he suffered gunshot wounds.
Meanwhile, two MassDOT workers on the South End Bridge were injured, one seriously, when they were hit by the Honda Civic fleeing the scene of the first shooting. Springfield police moved quickly and were able to locate the Civic near Riverview Terrace. Three occupants were arrested and four firearms seized on the I-91 ramp. The Jeep was located at a home on Randall Place, where four suspects were arrested and three firearms were recovered. Among them, the youngest suspect, aged 16, is currently on bail for shooting an individual last year.
Springfield Police Superintendent Larry Akers noted that Springfield police did not respond at any time. “It would have been very easy on many of these occasions to return fire, take lives and have justification for doing so. So for the people out there who don't know what it's like to be a police officer, please think about it.”
The motive for the shooting is unclear; however, Akers believes the suspects thought they were shooting at a rival group. “I don't want to say 'necklaces'. I don't want to put a label on anybody. Just people in the area who were trying to profit from how they make a living.” Of the seven suspects arrested, two are juveniles and five have prior firearms charges.
Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno continues his long-standing call for the justice system to keep repeat offenders behind bars, saying, “I'm not going to ask, I'm going to demand that the courts and some of the judges do their jobs because we could I've been walking around saying that one of our officers had been killed, killed.”
Members of the Springfield Police Department and the injured officer's family are currently at his side as he is treated at a Boston hospital. The incident remains under investigation by the Springfield Police Detective Bureau.
WEEI Boston's Sports Original and The Greg Hill Foundation are doing everything they can to raise money for Officer Santos and his family for his extended stay in Boston and any upcoming medical bills. If you would like to donate to help Officer Santos, please do so through The Greg Hill Foundation at www.thegreghillfoundation.org.
They are also matching donations up to $7500. Alternatively, you can Venmo the Springfield Police Patrolman's Union Charitable Arm – 364 Gives. His Venmo account is @IBPO364Gives. All donations will go directly to Officer Santos and his family.
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