Springfield police have identified an officer who suffered gunshot wounds to the face and leg Wednesday, leaving him in serious condition.
Authorities say Officer Nestor Santos still had a bullet fragment lodged in his head as of Friday morning, but that doctors were able to save his eye after he was wounded on State Street. The department shared the update as he continues to recover in a Boston-area hospital.
Santos was reportedly wounded while on his way to work late Wednesday night when he drove by a group of armed suspects in the area. It happened after the department’s Firearms Investigation Unit initially came under fire around 10:40 p.m. while conducting an unrelated investigation in the Mason Square area.
During the first reported shooting, a group of armed suspects travelling in a Honda Civic allegedly opened fire on plainclothes FIU detectives before fleeing. Officials said that soon afterwards, another group of armed suspects in a Jeep Cherokee allegedly approached and shot at an unmarked police cruiser and detectives on State Street.
It was at that time authorities say the group turned its attention to Santos's vehicle and opened fire. A spokesperson for Springfield PD indicated an AR-15-style rifle was among the firearms used by the suspects, and later seized by police.
At a press conference Thursday, Deputy Chief Steven Kent detailed the chaotic nature of the incident.
“We have two carloads of shooters - we have a police officer who was shot and calls out on the radio that he was shot, so, you have officers responding there - you have officers pursuing suspects in two different locations, almost simultaneously - all while you're dealing with somebody that you see and roll call with every day, who’s suffering from two gunshot wounds in the middle of State Street,” he said during a press conference.
Both vehicles were later located and seven suspects were taken into custody. Springfield Police Superintendent Lawrence Akers said on Thursday that all individuals sought were accounted for.
Police say Santos is expected to recover, with Springfield PD stating on Facebook that he would need additional surgeries. The officer was also said to have lost vision in one of his eyes as a result of the shooting.
Authorities noted Santos was the recipient of the department's Medal of Valor in 2023.
