SPRINGFIELD, MA — Springfield police assisted by Massachusetts State Police seized a loaded machine gun and arrested five suspects Monday on the 300 block of Franklin Street.
Officers observed a stolen motor vehicle on Marion Street around 1:25 p.m.
The vehicle was reported stolen out of Springfield on May 2.
Officers then saw five individuals outside the vehicle on Amherst Street, three of whom were attempting to pull off the license plate.
Officers also observed one individual who was carrying what appeared to be a firearm in his sweatshirt pocket.
As officers conducted a traffic stop, the five subjects got back into the car and sped away.
A few minutes later, officers received information that the vehicle was in the area of Franklin Street.
Officers located the vehicle and the five suspects on foot.
One suspect, later identified as 18-year-old Xavier Gonzalez, attempted to run away while carrying what appeared to be a firearm.
The other suspects were detained.
Officers quickly apprehended Gonzalez and recovered a firearm.
The firearm was loaded with 24 rounds of ammunition and had a sear-selector switch, making it a fully automatic machine gun.
Gonzalez, 19-year-old Neashawn Lopez, 23-year-old Aiden Laboy, a 17-year-old male and 15-year-old male were placed under arrest.
The vehicle was returned to its owner.
Xavier Gonzalez, 18, of Holyoke is charged with carrying a firearm without a license, carrying a loaded large capacity firearm without a license, possession of a machine gun, possession of a loaded machine gun and receiving a stolen motor vehicle.
Neashawn Lopez, 19, of Holyoke is charged with receiving a stolen motor vehicle.
Aiden Laboy, 23, of Holyoke is charged with receiving a stolen motor vehicle.
The names and specific charges of the juveniles arrested will not be released due to their age.
