Full timeline of the State Street shooting and official remarks after the officer was shot

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) – A police officer is currently in the hospital and several suspects are in custody after a shooting on State Street. A local lawmaker responded, citing an update on gun reform legislation that is currently under discussion in the state legislature.

State Rep. Carlos Gonzalez and other lawmakers are seeking to cross the finish line and pass a gun reform law, which may or may not include provisions targeting repeat offenders.

The injured officer is currently in serious condition in a Boston area hospital after being shot in the face and leg Wednesday evening.

Springfield police said the incident 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. Nobody was hit.

Two minutes later, at the intersection of State Street and Hunter Place, shots were fired at an unmarked police car coming from a Jeep Cherokee. Again, no one was injured.

But 60 minutes later, the Jeep's passengers turned their attention to another police officer who was driving down State Street in his private car on his way to work. He was shot several times.

Two MassDOT employees on the South End Bridge were also injured, one of them seriously, when he was struck by the Honda Civic fleeing from the first shooting scene.

Springfield rushed to locate the Civic in the Riverview Terrace area. Three occupants were taken into custody and four firearms were seized on the I-91 ramp.

The Jeep was located at a home on Randall Place, 4 suspects were arrested and three firearms were recovered. Among them, the youngest suspect, aged 16, was currently on bail for shooting an individual last year.

Police Commissioner Larry Akers told us he believes the suspects thought they were shooting at a rival group.

“I don't mean 'gangs.' I don't want to put a label on anyone. Just local people trying to enjoy the way they made a living.

State Rep. Carlos Gonzalez advocated for gun reform and a reduction in gun violence, citing legislation under discussion in the Joint Committee on Public Safety, which he presides over the Chamber.

“We face the challenge of trying to prevent the gun industry from continuing to have these weapons on the streets. Particularly, these weapons that are sort of assault weapons that, in my opinion, have no reason to be in anyone's hands unless you're attacking someone or you were not participating in any type of military combat.

A key point of conversation under this bill is the language surrounding repeat offenders.

Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno strongly urged the courts to keep these types of criminals in prison.

“I'm not going to ask, I'm going to demand that the courts and some judges do their job because we could have walked out here saying one of our officers was murdered, killed,” the mayor said. .

While repeat offenders' share is on the table to be included in the final bill, Gonzalez says it's not that simple.

“Repeat offenders are also a legal issue. It's not just about guns, because repeat offenders don't commit crimes with guns alone. But again, our goal here is to provide law enforcement with the tools necessary to ensure that they incarcerate individuals who use illegal weapons, commit crimes with illegal weapons, and most importantly, sell illegal weapons.

Gonzalez says he and his colleagues are “getting closer” as discussions continue, and he hopes a final bill will be passed and signed by the end of the current session next month.

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