Springfield police officer shot in face could lose eye; 7 people arrested after shooting

SPRINGFIELD – A Springfield police officer shot in the face and leg Wednesday night could lose sight in one eye. Officer Nestor Santos is recovering in a Boston-area hospital with a bullet fragment still lodged in his head “and will likely require several additional surgeries before being released,” police said in a message published on social networks.

“He underwent surgery and doctors were able to save his eye, but he will likely lose vision in one eye,” the department said.

Santos has been an officer in Springfield for seven years and last year received the “Medal of Valor,” which is the department’s highest honor. He previously served as an officer in central Massachusetts.

The Greg Hill Foundation and WEEI are raising money for the recovery of 44-year-old Santos. Santos is married with three children, including a son who is a police officer in Southbridge.

Chaotic scene in Springfield

Police described how the chaotic scene unfolded Wednesday evening. The department said it started when people in a Honda Civic fired at officers who were conducting an unrelated investigation on College Street around 10:40 p.m.

Two minutes later, as backup officers attempted to find the Civic, police said people in a Jeep Cherokee opened fire on an unmarked patrol vehicle “with an AR-15-style rifle.” near State Street and Hunter Place. No officers were hit at that location, but police say that's when Santos arrived on scene and was shot after stopping his car in the 600 block of State Street.

7 suspects arrested in Springfield

Police said the Civic was stopped on the ramp to I-91, but not before striking two Department of Transportation employees, seriously injuring one. Police arrested three people who were inside the car and recovered four firearms.

The Jeep Cherokee was found at a home on Randall Place. Police said three suspects in the Jeep were arrested and a fourth man was arrested at the home.

Police said Isak Font, 18, Dwight Clarke, 26, and a 16-year-old boy — all from Springfield — were accused of shooting at the unmarked vehicle and Santos. Also charged are Robert Willis III, 18, Alberto Torres, 18, and a 17-year-old who were in the Civic, as well as Jaime Griffin, 31, who was arrested at the Randall Place home. on gun-related charges.

Five of the suspects had previously been arrested for gun possession, 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,” said Springfield Police Supt. » Lawrence Akers said in a statement.