Police and EMTs became the unintended targets of gunfire during an early morning shooting.
SPRINGFIELD — Police officers and an ambulance crew had to take cover during an early morning shooting on State Street as a group of street thugs began firing at a male victim they intended to rob.
Lt. Henry Gagnon confirmed a Springfield police cruiser and an American Medical Response ambulance were parked near 659 State Street near the intersection with Hancock street, for a medical call at 3:19 a.m. when a man ran toward them from the direction of nearby Stebbins Street calling out for help from officers, saying he was being robbed.
Officers said they saw two males running toward them from the direction of Stebbings Street, one firing a handgun as he ran. Officers and emergency medical personnel ducked for cover as three to four shots were fired.
While one bullet hit the ambulance, no one; police, ambulance crew or the patient on board the ambulance, was injured by the gunfire. The robbery victim however, earlier had been struck in the head with the pistol, but not shot.
Gagnon said the officers and medical personnel were not the intended targets but as the victim ran toward them the assailants fired in their direction.
Police fanned out in the area searching for two males, both wearing white T-shirts. Gagnon described one suspect as a black male, standing 5-foot,10-inches to 6-feet tall, wearing a white T-shirt and Khaki shorts, and the second suspect as a Hispanic male wearing a white T-shirt.
Members of the Detective Bureau continue to investigate the incident.
Other shootings had taken place in that area. On June 14 a man was shot several times nearby and took refuge in the vestibule of 659 State St. until police and an ambulance arrived.