Crime
Suspect in custody after shooting at Holyoke Mall
HOLYOKE, Mass. — Law enforcement officials responded to a report of shots fired at the Holyoke Mall on Friday afternoon, prompting a large-scale police presence and the temporary evacuation of the shopping center.
According to the Holyoke Police Department, officers were dispatched to the mall around 4:40 p.m., following reports of gunfire near the entrance to Round One, an entertainment venue located within the complex.
As the situation unfolded, fire alarms were activated, and shoppers were seen running toward exits, causing brief panic throughout the mall.
Fortunately, authorities have confirmed that no injuries or deaths occurred, and no innocent bystanders were harmed during the incident.
A suspect has been taken into custody, police said.
At this time, the identity of the individual has not been released, and investigators have not disclosed whether a firearm was recovered at the scene.
Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia addressed the situation in a brief statement on social media, confirming a shooting incident had occurred and assuring the public that the situation was under control and remains under active investigation.
He noted that further information would be provided as it becomes available.
As of Friday evening, the mall remains temporarily evacuated out of an abundance of caution while officers continue to secure the scene and collect evidence.
The Holyoke Police Department is leading the investigation and has urged the public to remain patient as authorities gather additional details.
Officials emphasized that there is no ongoing threat to public safety.
Anyone with information related to the incident is encouraged to contact Holyoke Police.
Authorities have identified the man shot and killed Friday afternoon in a parking lot outside a Little Caesars restaurant in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood.
The victim has been named as Stevens Jeffrey, 29, according to police and the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The shooting occurred in the 2600 block of West Cermak Road near Rockwell Street at approximately 1:10 p.m., according to the Chicago Police Department (CPD).
Preliminary reports indicate that Jeffrey was sitting in his vehicle when he was approached by an unknown vehicle.
An armed individual exited that vehicle and opened fire, striking Jeffrey multiple times in the face and body.
Emergency responders arrived on the scene, where Jeffrey was pronounced dead. He was discovered inside his vehicle with his two young children, ages 4 and 6, who were unharmed.
Both children were transported to Stroger Hospital for precautionary evaluation.
The shooting took place in the parking lot of a Little Caesars restaurant, where investigators recovered multiple shell casings and placed numerous evidence markers on the ground.
As of Friday evening, no suspects are in custody, and detectives from the CPD Area Four Homicide Unit are leading the investigation. Police have not released information on a possible motive.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about this homicide to contact Chicago Police or submit an anonymous tip at CPDTip.com.