A Massachusetts man is facing multiple charges for repeatedly pointed a gun at responding police officers and bystanders after he allegedly fired multiple shots in Springfield.
Springfield police say the incident, which was recorded by city cameras, happened Sunday night.
At about 7:25 p.m., officers responded to the 0-100 block of High Street after a ShotSpotter Activation indicated that five gunshots had been fired in the area.
The video released by Springfield police starts by showing the actions of the suspect, 43-year-old Jose Montanez, moments after he allegedly discharged his firearm and before the first officer arrived at the scene.
Montanez, a Springfield resident, is seen holding a pistol and waving it around before hiding it behind his back. The video then shows a police cruiser pull up near Montanez shortly afterward, as crime analysts were able to relay his actions and location to responding officers.
When police arrived at the scene, Montanez began to retreat but continued to point his firearm in the direction of officers and bystanders. Springfield police say the responding officers immediately noticed that the gun’s slide was locked in the rear, which typically indicates that it was out of ammunition or unable to be fired unless the slide was moved forward.
“They certainly take a chance on waiting for that, but it gives you another second or two where you know that he’s not going to be able to fire,” Springfield Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood said Monday night. “If he closes that slide, I’m sure both officers would have had to fire for their own lives.”
In the video, Montanez is seen briefly dropping the gun at one point and immediately retrieving it from the ground. Officers also saw that Montanez had an additional magazine of ammunition around his waistband.
Montanez continued to evade officers and ran out of view of city cameras. Police say he ran to the back of the High School of Commerce on State Street, where he allegedly tossed the gun on school property before he was taken into custody without further incident.
Springfield police say officers recovered the gun, which was reported stolen out of Ludlow, and the second magazine of ammunition that was in Montanez’s waistband.
No injuries have been reported and there was no visible property damage as a result of the incident. Officers did, however, find shell casings in the area of the shooting.
“Looking at that video, it was chilling. It was very chilling because you know everything that can go wrong,” Clapprood said. “The department is blessed that it ended as well as it did. If it was a suicide-by-cop (attempt), then I give my officers all the credit in the world.”
“After reviewing this most chilling video, these officers showed tremendous restraint in not firing their weapons in this foot chase to subdue this violent offender, who was firing off his gun and pointing at officer’s numerous times,” Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno said in a statement. “Those officers and residents were put in harm’s way and a very traumatic situation – they could have been injured or, God forbid, killed.”
Montanez, who is well known to police, has been charged with assault with a dangerous weapon; discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building; carrying a dangerous weapon on school grounds; receiving stolen property less than $1,200; carrying a loaded firearm without a license; carrying a firearm without a license; possession of ammunition without an FID card; and disturbing the peace. He was arraigned on those charges Monday afternoon in Springfield District Court.
Clapprood says Montanez has an extensive criminal record, including four priors in firearms-related incidents.
Springfield police are continuing to investigate the scene of the shooting and are looking for any additional evidence. Clapprood says police are also investigating whether Montanez’s mental health played a role in his actions Sunday night.
The officers involved in the incident will go through a departmental debriefing and the department will provide any support that they need, according to city officials.
*story by WCVB-Boston MA.
