SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Five men were arrested Saturday night that led to the seizure of six guns, one of which is classified as an assault weapon.

The Springfield Police Department along with Mayor Sarno held a news conference regarding the arrests made in the city.

According to a news release from the Springfield Police Department, detectives received information that Anas Nichols was in possession of a firearm at the home of Kahsim Wilson on College Street. While conducting surveillance, detectives saw the following:

  • Semaj Hunter with a firearm under his shirt adjusting the handle of a gun.
  • Markendall Johnson pulling on the grip of a firearm from his pocket.
    • Glock 27 loaded with nine rounds of ammunition seized
  • Anas Nichols outside with a firearm visible in his pocket.
    • Glock 23 seized
  • Kahsim Wilson carrying a bag with a rifle style firearm sticking out.
    • Detectives seized the loaded MAG Tactical System Rifle capable of holding 30 rounds inside the bag, which is classified as an assault weapon.
(Springfield Police Department)

In an attempt to detain the individuals, four of them ran away. Devon Banton was detained in the driveway and the others were caught and detained pending the investigation.

Detectives seized two firearms from a vehicle in the driveway, a Glock with a defaced serial number, with a 22 round magazine loaded with 14 rounds of ammunition and a Glock loaded with 12 rounds of ammunition. A Colt was seized in the driveway where Hunter was standing before he ran.

One firearm was reported stolen out of Connecticut another stolen out of South Carolina.

In 2022, the Springfield Police Department’s Firearms Investigation Unit seized 84 illegally possessed firearms. In May alone, twenty illegally possessed firearms were seized during 16 separate arrests.

Springfield police seized six ghost guns in 2020, 27 in 2021 and as of May officers have already recovered 11 ghost guns in 2022. For a gun to be considered a legal firearm, it must be registered, have a serial number stamped on it and be in possession of a legal authorized owner. Currently in state and federal laws, gun parts or kits are not considered to be firearms, which means they do not apply to gun laws until fully assembled.

Anas Nichols (22) of Springfield is charged with following:

Anas Nichols (Springfield Police Department)
  • Carrying a Firearm without a License
  • Carrying a Loaded Firearm without a License
  • Improper Storage of a Firearm
  • Parole Violation Warrant
  • Receiving Stolen Property Less than $1200
  • Resisting Arrest
  • Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class D Drug

Semaj Hunter (23) of Springfield is charged with the following:

Semaj Hunter (Springfield Police Department)
  • Carrying a Firearm without a License
  • Carrying a Loaded Firearm without a License
  • Improper Storage of a Firearm
  • Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class D Drug
  • Receiving Stolen Property Less than $1200

Markendall Johnson (19) of Chicopee is charged with the following:

Markendall Johnson (Springfield Police Department)
  • Carrying a Firearm without a License
  • Carrying a Loaded Firearm without a License
  • Improper Storage of a Firearm
  • Parole Violation Warrant
  • Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class D Drug
  • Malicious Damage to Property

Devon Banton (21) of Springfield is charged with the following:

Devon Banton (Springfield Police Department)
  • Carrying a Firearm without a License
  • Carrying a Firearm without a License
  • Carrying a Loaded Large Capacity Firearm on a Public Way
  • Carrying a Loaded Large Capacity Firearm on a Public Way
  • Improper Storage of a Large Capacity Firearm
  • Improper Storage of a Large Capacity Firearm
  • Firearm with a Defaced Serial Number
  • Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class D Drug

Kahsim Wilson (22) of Springfield is charged with the following:

Kahsim Wilson (Springfield Police Department)
  • Carrying a Firearm without a License
  • Carrying a Loaded Large Capacity Firearm on a Public Way
  • Improper Storage of a Large Capacity Firearm
  • Assault Weapon – Unlicensed Possession
  • Parole Violation Warrant
  • Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Class D Drug

“This is another example of how dangerous our profession has become.  Here you have four individuals with serious pending charges, three of them on ankle bracelets and they all have a gun.  This situation could have turned out much different and I’d like to thank our dedicated Firearms Investigation Unit under the command of Captain Brian Keenan, Lt. Julio Toledo and his C3 Unit, our K9 Team and squad officers for assisting and getting this arsenal off the streets.  I can only hope for those with open cases that the terms of their probation are revoked and they are held until their trials,” said Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood.

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno states, “Terrific work by our brave and dedicated men and women of our Springfield Police Department.  Yet again, our Firearms Investigation Unit has taken more guns off our streets and out of our neighborhoods from repeat criminal offenders.  These individuals were out on bail and wearing GPS bracelets.  They all have serious prior gun charges and a serious home invasion offense but yet here they are, back on our streets and in our neighborhoods with more guns.  These repeat criminal offenders laugh at our court system because they know there will be no consequences for their actions.  You want to stop gun violence, we need our courts to back our law enforcement agencies and lock up these repeat criminal and gun offenders.  There is only so much our dedicated police officers can do when they continue to arrest the same individuals over and over again on serious gun charges.  If the courts won’t hold them accountable for these serious crimes, then it is only a matter of time before they are arrested again where someone might get hurt or killed.”