SPD: Murder victim was known to police

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - The man who was found shot to death Monday night in the driveway of a Forest Park home had been arrested in 2008 on drug and stolen car charges.

Springfield Police Sergeant John Delaney told 22News that Victor Mercedes, 30, also known as "Juan J. Soto," died from a single gunshot wound.

Mercedes' body was found by police outside the two-family home at 93 Garfield Street just before 9:00 Monday night. Capt. William Collins told 22News that police had originally thought it might have been a suicide. They determined it was a homicide when no weapon was found near the body. Mercedes had been shot in the head, and was lying in a pool of blood.

It is unclear what Mercedes, whose address is listed as 201 Orange Street, was doing on Garfield Street when he was shot. The owner of the home where Mercedes was found told 22News that he had no idea who the victim was . He was not home at the time of the shooting.

Delaney says that Mercedes was known to police, and had been arrested in August of 2008 on charges of cocaine distribution, stolen motor vehicle, and giving a false name to police.

If you have any information, you are urged to call Springfield Police Detectives at (413) 787-6355 or "Text-a-Tip".