Springfield police open fire on suspect Darryl Thomas after he allegedly tries to run them down in escape attempt

POlice said Thomas drove at two officers and they each drew their weapons and fired.

This is an update to a story that was originally posted at 5:23 p.m.

SPRINGFIELD - Springfield police officers opened fire on a car that tried to run him down in the city’s South End Friday afternoon, injuring the 48-year-old driver and his 45-year-old passenger, police said.

The driver, identified as Darryl Thomas, who had a last known address of 548 Canon Circle, Springfield, suffered an injury to one of his wrists, said Sgt. John Delaney, aide to Commissioner William J. Fitchet.

A female passenger, whose name was not released, suffered a gunshot wound to the abdomen, Delaney said. She underwent surgery Friday night at Baystate Medical Center and is considered in stable condition. Delaney said her wounds are not life-threatening.

The officers involved in the shooting, whose names was not being released, suffered scrapes and bruises when they dove out of the way of the car, Delaney said.

Thomas has been charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon: a motor vehicle. Other charges are possible, he said. No charges have been filed against the passenger, but they could be filed later, he said.

The shooting happened on Williams Street near Main Street in an area of the South End that was heavily damaged by the tornado that swept through Springfield on Wednesday.

The area was already cordoned off by the Massachusetts National Guard earlier in the week due to danger from possible building collapses, and guardsmen were not allowing the press or general public within two blocks of the scene.

Delaney said police began pursuing the car on Maple Street because it matched the description of a vehicle involved in an assault on a woman moments earlier in that area. The chase continued to Union and up to a parking lot on Dale Street that had only one exit.

When the officers got out of their cruiser to approached the stopped car, Thomas spun the car around and accelerated at the two officers, forcing them to dive out of the way. He rammed the police cruiser once and was attempting to hit it again when both officers drew their weapons and opened fire.

Thomas was able to drive around the police cruiser and out of the parking lot but he turned into an alley near Main Street and got blocked in. Thomas attempted to flee on foot but was captured by several city and state police and national guardsmen who were in the area providing security.

Delaney said the shooting remains under investigation. Detectives remain on scene Friday night collecting evidence and piecing together what happened.