SPRINGFIELD — In the early hours of Thursday, Springfield police arrested two men and confiscated two illegal firearms following a shooting incident.
The episode began around 1:50 a.m. when officers were dispatched to the 100 block of Dickinson Street due to a ShotSpotter activation.
They found evidence at the scene shortly before an adult male victim with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds arrived at Baystate Medical Center.
Springfield Police Crime Analysts at the Real-Time Analysis Center (R-TAC) utilized city cameras to track down the vehicle involved.
After distributing a photo of the vehicle to officers, a traffic stop was attempted.
The driver, Antonio Vega, fled at high speed and subsequently crashed on Longhill Street.
Vega, 24, and his passenger, Julio Nunez-Jimenez, 24, were both taken into custody.
A spent shell casing was found in Vega’s pocket, with another in the vehicle, which also contained two illegal firearms, including a loaded “Ghost Gun” with a 14-round capacity, and crack-cocaine.
Vega, out on bail for prior charges including assault with a dangerous weapon, and Nunez-Jimenez, recently released from prison with two prior firearms convictions, face multiple charges including possession of a large-capacity firearm, carrying a firearm without a license, and possession of a Class B drug.
Vega faces additional charges related to vehicle operation and fleeing police.
