Three Springfield teenagers have been arrested in connection with a shooting that has left a teenage boy fighting for his life and in critical condition. Police said the three Springfield suspects also drove the teenager to a hospital after shooting him.
On Monday, May 22, at around 3:20 p.m., Springfield police responded to a ShotSpotter activation near the intersection of Acorn and Sycamore streets, according to department spokesperson Ryan Walsh.
Officers found two houses and three cars struck by gunfire in the area. Police later learned that an 18-year-old boy with serious gunshot injuries was taken to Mercy Medical Center.
Officials said the gunshot victim was later transferred to Baystate Medical Center. As of Tuesday afternoon, officials said the 18-year-old remains in critical condition.
A police investigation led officers to believe that several teenagers drove to the Acorn and Sycamore Street intersection together in a car and began shooting at a person and/or home.
Police said that’s when the teenage boy, who was a passenger in the car, was hit by one or more of the people he arrived with.
Springfield police detectives previously identified a 15-year-old as one of the passengers of the car involved in the shooting after reviewing security footage and speaking to witnesses.
Police believe the 15-year-old along with other teenagers dropped the teenage shooting victim off at Mercy Medical Center after shooting him.
Authorities arrested the 15-year-old at his Wilmont Street home just before midnight on May 22. Days later on May 25, police identified and arrested 18-year-old Richmond Amoako in connection with the shooting.
Springfield police said Amoako was the driver of the car that took the teenage gunshot victim to Mercy. Amoako drove away from the hospital before he could be questioned by police.
Amoako faces possession of a firearm and assault and battery charges.
Springfield police detectives went on to identify Priest Thomas, 18, as another passenger of the car involved in the shooting. Thomas has two open firearm cases and was ordered to wear a GPS ankle bracelet at the time of the incident.
Following Amoako’s arrest, on May 26, Springfield police detectives searched a home near the 100 block of Pearl Street and found a large-capacity ghost gun in an unidentified teenager’s room. Police placed the teenager under arrest for ghost gun possession.
Police also found Thomas in the Pearl Street home and place him under arrest. Thomas faces several firearms and attempted assault and battery charges in connection with the Acorn and Sycamore Street shooting.
Springfield police are still investigating the shooting.
Ad Choices