Victim hit with gun in Springfield home invasion

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Springfield police have made one arrest, but are still looking for another suspect in a home invasion at a Sixteen Acres apartment complex late Monday night.

Thomas Marrero, 30, of Springfield is being charged with home invasion while armed with a firearm, and refusing to stop for police.

Springfield Police Sgt. John Delaney told 22News that two men wearing hooded sweatshirts broke into a home on Beacon Circle (Colonial Estates Apartments) around 11:40 Monday night. The victim, a 39 year-old woman, was hit in the face with a handgun. She was bruised, but did not have to be taken to the hospital.

The victim says that the thieves got away with prescription drugs, including Ativam, Paxil, Colonopin, and Abilify.

A police officer who had been staking-out the entrance to the apartment complex following the call had seen a silver SUV pull slowly onto North Branch Parkway. Delaney says that the men inside the vehicle tried to hide themselves after seeing the officer. The officer followed the SUV, and the driver tried to get away on Fox Drive. Delaney says police followed them to Duggan Circle, where the driver ran out of the car.

The officer was able to stop the passenger, Marrero, from getting out of the vehicle, and he arrested him. On the SUV’s passenger seat, Delaney says, police found the victim’s purse, ID, and prescription drugs stolen in the home invasion.

Marrero is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday in Springfield District Court. Police are still searching for the second suspect.