SPRINGFIELD, MA — Two men have been arrested in connection with a June shooting that left a 22-year-old man dead, authorities announced.
Erick Osorio-Rivera, 33, of Springfield, was arrested Tuesday at approximately 11:40 a.m. on the 800 block of State Street by members of the Springfield Police Homicide Unit, Springfield Police Firearms Investigation Unit, Massachusetts State Police VFAS, Hampden County Sheriff’s Department and United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force.
Officers responded to the 100 block of Oak Grove Avenue at approximately 6:25 p.m. on June 29 for a ShotSpotter activation.
Officers located an adult male gunshot victim who was transported to Baystate with serious injuries.
On July 12, the victim, identified by the Hampden District Attorney’s Office as Felix Ponce-Cardona, 22, of Springfield, succumbed to his injuries.
The Springfield Police Homicide Unit under the direction of Captain Trent Duda continued investigating in conjunction with the Hampden District Attorney’s Murder Unit.
Homicide detectives identified two suspects in connection with the murder: Vidal Hernandez-Vazquez, 19, of Springfield, and Osorio-Rivera.
On Nov. 17, detectives applied for and were granted a warrant for their arrests.
Hernandez-Vazquez was served his murder warrant at the Hampden County Correctional Center in Ludlow where he has been held since a Sept. 17 arrest on drug trafficking and illegal firearms charges.
Hernandez-Vazquez was arraigned on Nov. 20 and was held without the right to bail.
He is charged with murder, carrying a firearm without a license, carrying a loaded firearm without a license and discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building.
Osorio-Rivera was arraigned on Nov. 19 and was held without the right to bail.
He is charged with murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
