Springfield marks 16th murder of 2010

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - 34 year-old Ramon Leonardo-Cruz of Springfield died early Wednesday morning after being shot and stabbed at his home in the city's South End. An eighteen year old is now in custody and charged with his murder.

Springfield Police Sergeant John Delaney 22News that Leonardo-Cruz was found shot in the back and stabbed in the chest Tuesday night at his apartment on 265 Mill Street. He was taken to Baystate Medical Center, but was dead by the time he arrived.

Delaney says that just after 8:20 P.M. officers who were in the neighborhood on a report of a suspicious car had seen three men run out of the Mill Street home and speed off in a Honda Civic. Police followed the car, but called-off the pursuit due to high speeds and road conditions. Minutes later, police received a report that there was a shooting victim inside the Mill Street home. They arrived to discover a badly wounded Leonardo-Cruz.

According to Delaney, Witnesses told police that three armed men forced their way into a third-floor apartment at the home. Two of them were reportedly wearing masks at the time.

Police found the Honda Civic involved in the chase parked outside a home on Allen Street. According to Delaney, officers questioned the car's owner, who told them that his son, Juan Bermudez, 18, was just driving the car and had just returned home. Bermudez agreed to come to Police Headquarters for questioning. After being questioned, Bermudez was arrested for murder.

Delaney told 22News that Bermudez has a history of drug-related offenses, and that Leonardo-Cruz's killing may have had something to do with drugs.

More arrests are possible as the investigation continues.