Murder brings fear to Forest Park

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Residents tell 22News that Garfield Street in Springfield is a close knit neighborhood home to many families. Now, it becomes the home of the city's 19th murder of the year.

"We're probably gonna move," said Christopher Moreno, who owns the home at 93 Garfield Street where the man was found murdered in the driveway. "The police need to get control of this violence. It's getting out of control."

It was just before 9:00pm Monday night when gunshots shattered the evening silence.

Springfield Police surrounded the two family home. They found a man dead, shot in the head, lying in a pool of blood.

Moreno, who says he bought the home two years ago, told 22News he was not at home at the time of the shooting and has no clue who the man is that was found killed.

"I was out buying a dog for my kids. We got a call from a neighbor saying somebody was shot in our driveway. We thought he was kidding but then we got home and saw the cops and police tape and we knew it wasn’t a joke," said Moreno.

According to Springfield Police Captain William Collins, they originally thought it might have been a suicide. They determined it was a murder when no weapon was found near the body. Collins told 22News they did recover two spent shell casings.

Police closed off the road for several hours to gather evidence and interview witnesses.

Gail Mejias has lived in the house directly across the street from #93 for 14 years. She told 22News what she heard.

"I was getting my girls ready for bed and I heard a pop. It sounded like a firework and I looked out the window and I didn't see anything...but I thought that's a pretty odd things to hear in October. Moments later, the street was filled with police officers, and that's when I thought it was probably a gunshot."

Other residents told 22News they have kids that attend the Forest Park Middle School just down the road. 22News observed many school kids walking down the street during the early morning. It's along the bus route.

"I feel very angry actually, and concerned for the safety of my girls," said Mejias. "My husband grew up in Springfield and we love the city. To have something like this happen at all is upsetting."

Police say the murdered man's car was parked in the driveway next to his body. It was a gray Honda Odyssey.

Police are still trying to figure out who the man is, and what he was doing at the home. Until they do, residents say they'll live in fear of the violence that's gripped their Forest Park community.