Springfield police officer seriously injured, 7 arrested in shooting

Seven people, including several teenagers, have been arrested in connection with a shooting in Springfield that seriously injured a police officer and a Department of Transportation employee.

The officer was shot in the face and leg as suspects in two separate vehicles fired at police Wednesday, the Springfield Police Department said in a statement Thursday afternoon.

The officer, who was not identified, remained at a Boston-area hospital Thursday. His injuries are not life-threatening, police said.

“I am incredibly proud of our officers involved who were shot, had to witness a colleague being shot and still managed to remove all suspects and seven illegal firearms from our streets during a very difficult night,” Springfield Police Superintendent Lawrence E. Akers said in a statement. “The professionalism they demonstrated speaks volumes about their character and work ethic. »

The incident began around 10:40 p.m. Wednesday evening, when detectives with the Springfield Police Firearms Investigation Unit were shot by individuals in a Honda Civic on College Street, according to police.

Minutes later, as officers attempted to locate the Civic, people in a Jeep Cherokee began shooting at an unmarked police car near the intersection of State Street and Hunter Place using multiple weapons, including an AR-15, police said.

The patrol vehicle was struck about five times, but the officers were not hit, officials said.

The shooters then began shooting at a police officer who was shot on his way to work, police said. That officer was rushed to Baystate Medical Center.

The Civic struck two Department of Transportation employees, seriously injuring one, before police located it in the area of ​​Riverview Terrace, police said.

Robert Willis III, 18, Alberto Torres, 18, and a 17-year-old, all from Springfield, were arrested after the Civic was found. Four firearms were located, including two with modifications making them fully automatic, police said.

The Jeep was later found at a home on Randall Place. Three firearms were found, along with firearm magazines and ammunition after a search of the home, according to police.

Isak Font, 18, Dwight Clarke, 26, and a 16-year-old were arrested in connection with the shots fired from the Jeep. The three men are suspected of shooting at the unmarked patrol vehicle and the injured police officer.

Jaime Griffin, 31, of Springfield, was arrested at the Randall Place home and faces firearms-related charges.

Five suspects had previously been arrested for gun possession, and Clarke had an outstanding firearm warrant, police said. The 16-year-old was out on bail in connection with a shooting.

The injured officer has been with the Springfield Police Department for seven years, police said, and was previously an officer in central Massachusetts. He received the department's highest distinction, the Medal of Valor, in 2023.

“I want to send my thoughts and prayers to our injured officer and his family. We will be by his side throughout the recovery process and I want his family to know that we will be there for him,” Akers said. “I also wish the DOT worker who was injured a speedy recovery.”

Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno also extended his best wishes to the officer and DOT worker and praised police for their quick response to the incident. He added that the city needs “help from the justice system” to “keep repeat violent criminal offenders in jail.”

“And also, given the young age of these individuals, where are their families to listen to them? Sarno said in a statement. “The situation could have been much worse and could have been avoided if these people had been incarcerated. »

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