The shooting happened at about 5:10 p.m. on 14 Montcalm St.
SPRINGFIELD – A city man was shot and killed on Father’s Day outside his home late Sunday afternoon in Indian Orchard.
The shooting happened at 14 Montcalm St., near the intersection of Healy Street. Neighbors said they had been outside when an altercation began in the neighborhood and someone started shooting.
“He is not a troublemaker. He is a good person,” said the neighbor of the man who was killed.
She said he had a wife and family and, she often barbecued with them. The neighbor declined to give her name because of concerns of retaliation.
Family members and neighbors gathered, many in tears, mourning the man who they said was just in the wrong place when the shooting happened.
Police Capt. Thomas Trites confirmed the victim had died but did not release his name until all his family was notified.
The shooting happened at about 5:10 p.m. and multiple shots were fired. When police arrived they started giving CPR to the victim and he was rushed to Baystate Medical Center where he was first listed in critical condition, Capt. Cheryl Clapprood said.
Neighbors said there had been a large crowd gathering all day and fighting off-and-on in front of one of the houses on the street. At one point someone was videotaping a fist fight.
“There were different fights and we were going to call the cops but they left and then they came back,” said another resident. She declined to give her name saying some involved in the altercations threatened to return for revenge.
“Some kid pulled out a gun and started shooting off an gun and some innocent guy got shot,” the neighbor said.
Residents said they started running when that happened, except one who said she froze in fear. She was not injured.
Police are investigating the homicide. Det. Lt. Maurice Kearney is in charge of the investigation. State police were also on the scene, Clapprood said.
Patrols were increased in the area Sunday night to prevent any more problems, she said.
Officers blocked off an area of four houses on Montcalm Street. Cones were placed in multiple spots identifying locations of gunshots. One was in the driveway of 12-14 Montcalm St. and the majority were a house down near the intersection of Healy and Montcalm.
This is the 10th homicide in the city this year. The most recent was on June 6 when Christian Graves, 19, was shot to death at 110 Woodside Terrace in the Forest Park section of the city.