Police continue to investigate back-to-back homicides in Holyoke on Sunday and Monday. The crimes don't appear to be linked, according to police, who've arrested three brothers in connection with one killing.
A state police detective searches the area behind 341 Appleton St. for evidence following Monday night's fatal shooting, Holyoke's second homicide in two days. The victim can be seen in the background under a sheet.Updates a story published at 11:42 p.m., Monday, June 20.
HOLYOKE – Police have arrested two more men in connection with the fatal shooting of 23-year-old Reynaldo Fuentes, whose bullet-riddled body was found Monday evening in a parking lot behind Las Chicas Market, 341 Appleton St.
All three homicide suspects are brothers, according to Holyoke Police Sgt. John Hart, adding that each is charged in connection with Fuentes' death, the city's second murder of the year.
Monday's fatal shooting, which was reported around 7:09 p.m., followed Sunday's killing of 26-year-old Oscar Castro, whom police believe died as a result of a gang-related dispute. No arrests have been made.
Castro, of 23 Essex St., was shot once in the head around 1:30 a.m. Sunday outside the Clover Cafe, 104 High St., but investigators don't think his case is related to the Fuentes case.
"We don't believe so," Hart said.
Meanwhile, investigators were still trying to piece together what led to Monday's killing of Fuentes, of 74 Waldo St.
"We're still working on a motive at this point," Hart said early Tuesday morning.
Police have arrested the Perez brothers -- Juan, Carlos and Leonardo -- in connection with Fuentes' death.
Hampden District Attorney Mark G.Mastroianni is briefed by a detective at the scene of Monday's homicide in Holyoke, the city's second killing in two days."All three have been booked on murder," Hart said.
The first to be arrested was Juan Perez, 26, of 374 Maple St., followed by Carlos and Leonardo Perez, ages 26 and 20, whose street addresses were not immediately available. Carlos is Juan's twin, Hart said.
The three brothers are expected to be arraigned Tuesday in Holyoke District Court.
Juan Perez stabbed Fuentes during an altercation a few weeks ago, according to police, who believe Juan is the Perez brother with the main beef against Fuentes.
At the scene of Monday's homicide, 15-year-old Kenneth Torres identified himself as one of Fuentes' eight brothers. Torres claimed Fuentes worked a construction job in Northampton and tried to avoid trouble in his Holyoke neighborhood.
“I don’t know why this happened. He didn’t get into problems with nobody. I can’t believe this happened,” Torres said.
Torres said Fuentes' nickname was “Goldo.”
A clerk at Las Chicas Market said he heard several gunshots ring out behind the store, which had nothing to do with the shooting, according to police.
A crowd of more than 100 people, many of whom appeared visibly upset, gathered near Appleton and Elm streets, which were partially closed as police investigated the fatal shooting.
Hampden District Attorney Mark G. Mastroianni conferred with detectives at the scene and later went to police headquarters, located on Appleton Street about five blocks from the shooting site.
Investigators are asking anyone with information about either of Holyoke's latest homicides to call them at (413) 322-6900.
Staff reporters Mike Plaisance and Jeanette DeForge contributed to this report.
THE MAP BELOW shows the approximate locations of Holyoke's first 2 homicides of the year, which occurred within 2 days of each other:
View Pioneer Valley Homicides, 2011 in a larger map