Arrest made in shooting of father and 5 year old son in Holyoke

HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) - Holyoke police say after an extensive effort, they made an arrest in a shooting that left a 5 year old injured in what they call a violent and heinous crime.

Holyoke Police Chief James Neiswanger said, “The father had just hugged his son and had just put him down.”

That's when 21 year old Brian Marrero allegedly started shooting-- hitting a 26 year old Reynaldo Diaz and his 5 year old son.

During a news conference Saturday, Chief Neiswanger said they had to obtain a search warrant to arrest Marrero. This wasn’t the first time he was in trouble.  Police say he had a violent history. That was even more apparent when Marrero allegedly started shooting and hitting a child.

“Very reckless in his behavior and very negligent and probably an I don't care attitude and that's the danger with firearms.  That's why we're glad to make the arrest and he belongs off the street for a very long time.”

Police say the father and his son were returning from the community center when he was shot near the corner of Lyman and North Summer Street. It was on North Summer Street that the suspect allegedly lives.

In the neighborhood, one child told us many are still nervous to go outside since the shooting.

Since then, Diaz has been released from the hospital. The five year old is still hospitalized but is expected to recover.

That was a relief to neighbor Jonathan Shelton, “That's good, I mean you hope that when something like that happens you hope everyone's all right, a little boy, it's awful.”

Several charges were filed against Marrero including possession of a firearm without a license. Bail has been set at $100,000.