Holyoke shootout near City Hall leaves one in custody, another at large

HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) – A shootout near High Street and Worcester Place in Holyoke Thursday afternoon, led to one arrest while another suspect remains at large.

At approximately 1:45 p.m., police reported that five shots were fired during the incident, with two stray bullets striking the City Hall Annex, shattering a window on the third floor at the Board of Health office. No injuries were reported.

Captain Isaias Cruz of the Holyoke Police Department stated that the department’s ShotSpotter technology and newly installed city cameras were instrumental in identifying a vehicle involved in the shooting. The suspected vehicle, a green Buick, was seen traveling down Cabot Street and crossing the Willimansett Bridge into Chicopee, where local police stopped the car and apprehended the driver.

Inside the vehicle, officers discovered $5,831, 117 rounds of ammunition, a 9mm Beretta, 486 bags of heroin, and 101 vials of cocaine. Authorities have issued a warrant for a man who had been a passenger in the car during the shooting.

The driver, identified as Hector Rivera , faces multiple charges, including:

• Possession to distribute Class B drug
• Possession to distribute Class A drug
• Carrying a firearm without license
• Possession of a Class B drug
• Possession of a Class A drug
• Possession of a large capacity firearm a a felon
• Improper storage of a large capacity firearm
• Possession of ammunition with an FID card
• Malicious destruction of property, over $1,200
• Accessory before the fact
• Accessory after the face
• Firearm violation with 1 prior violent/drug crime
• Firearm without an FID car, subsequent offense
• Possession of ammunition without an FID card, subsequent offense
• Assault with a dangerous weapon
• Discharge a firearm within 500 ft of building

Holyoke Mayor Joshua A. Garcia confirmed that the shootout involved two parties and emphasized that the City Hall Annex was not the intended target. “I’m relieved that our ShotSpotter technology and cameras helped us catch a suspect,” Mayor Garcia said. “But I’m disgusted and angry at the gun violence in Holyoke. Every citizen in every ward deserves to feel safe and secure. We need to get guns and drugs off our streets. We need harsh penalties for those who engage in gun violence and we need judges willing to hand out harsh penalties for those who endanger our residents.”

In response to a recent shooting in Springfield that seriously injured a police officer, Mayor Garcia took to social media, stating, “There is only so much we can do locally. And what we do locally often creates debate and divides communities. No matter what we do, however, nothing will be more effective than Congress strengthening gun laws and judges doing their jobs. Yes, education is key and effective in the long term. But what about right now or the next few short hours that can present the next tragedy?”

Thursday’s shootout occurred just two days after the deadly shooting of a Holyoke man on West Street. Police are actively investigating both incidents.

In light of the shooting near City Hall, both Mayor Garcia and the City’s Personnel Department have invited concerned City employees to seek support. A counselor from the City’s Employee Assistance Program will be available at the Annex tomorrow to provide assistance to employees in need.

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