SPRINGFIELD — Two suspects were arrested early Sunday morning after Springfield police officers, hearing gunshots in the area, apprehended them following a vehicle crash, authorities said.
The incident began around 2 a.m. when officers from the North End Unit, towing a vehicle from an unrelated incident on Osgood Street, heard several shots.
They then received multiple activations from the ShotSpotter system indicating gunfire on nearby streets.
A vehicle was seen speeding away from the area of the shooting on Dwight Street.
Officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver, identified as Jafet Robles Jr., led them on a chase.
According to police, Robles Jr. drove recklessly, running red lights and endangering the public before crashing into a fence near the intersection of State Street and East Columbus Avenue.
Robles Jr. and his passenger, Vicossie Rodriguez-Sanchez, were both secured by officers at the scene.
A search of the vehicle yielded two spent shell casings and marijuana packaged for sale.
K-9 Officer Eric Blair and his partner, Flexx, were called to assist.
The police dog successfully located a firearm on the 100 block of State Street, which matched with surveillance footage showing an object thrown from the car.
Both Robles Jr., 21, and Rodriguez-Sanchez, 26, face multiple charges including discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building, carrying a firearm without a license, possession of ammunition without an FID card, possession with intent to distribute a Class D drug, and destruction of evidence.
Robles Jr. is additionally charged with reckless operation of a motor vehicle and failure to stop for police.
The suspects were taken into custody and await further legal proceedings.
