James Rosario became the city’s 10th homicide victim Saturday morning.
This is an update of a story first posted early Saturday morning.
City and state police are investigating a fatal shooting that occurred around 1:30 a.m. Saturday on Edgeland Street in Springfield's Forest Park neighborhood. An 18-year -old man was shot dead after leaving a house party there, police said. The killing is Springfield's 10th homicide of the year.SPRINGFIELD – City and state police continue the investigation into the early Saturday shooting that took the life of a 18-year-old, the second Springfield man to be killed in seven days and the fourth shooting case.
Police said James Rosario was shot to death around 1:30 a.m. Saturday, just as a large party was breaking up at his home at 88 Edgeland St. in the city’s Forest Park neighborhood.
James RosarioRosario died from multiple gunshot wounds to his chest, head and stomach, becoming the city’s 10th homicide victim. Investigators have determined the shooting was gang-related, according to Sgt. John M. Delaney.
Multiple police units responded to a 1:25 a.m. report of gunfire outside of the house where a large group of mostly younger revelers had been attending a house party.
Edgeland is located between Longhill Street and Fort Pleasant Avenue.
Delaney said Rosario was shot inside the house, and that his parents were not home at the time.
Delaney said the shooting was over a “minor pushing match” that escalated in the victim being shot and killed.
One of the party-goes brought to the station for a statement was charged with possession of a large-capacity firearm after he was searched and police found a .22-caliber Longrifle handgun fully loaded on him.
Delaney said Raul Rosario, 20, of 303 Maple St., apt. 305, was arrested and will be held until an arraignment Monday in Springfield District Court. The weapon was reported stolen in Brattleboro, Vt., in a 2009 housebreak, Delaney said. Raul Rosario is not related to the murder victim, Delaney said.
Raul RosarioIf anyone has any information about the shooting, Delaney said they should call the Detective Bureau at (413) 787-6355 or “Text-a-Tip.”
Massachusetts State Police investigators assigned to the office of Hampden District Attorney Mark G. Mastroianni also are assisting with the probe.
Mayor Domenic J. Sarno decried the violence and said “youth violence is a scourge of urban America.” Sarno said parents need to know who is in their homes, and what their children are doing at all times. Sarno said some relatives were home when the party was happening.
“Now an 18-year-old man is dead,” Sarno said. “If police were called, this young man could probably be still alive.”
“It’s sickening that another young person has lost their life,” Sarno said.
Sarno said he visited the family to express his condolences.
The homicide follows the July 3 killing of 38-year-old Raul E. Vera, who was shot to death on Lincoln Street in the city’s McKnight neighborhood around 7:14 p.m.
Meanwhile, this week’s other teenage shooting victim remains in critical condition at Baystate.
The 16-year-old boy was found shot three times at the intersection of Washington and Meredith streets in the city’s Forest Park neighborhood around 4:15 p.m. Thursday.
Police said the boy was inside a moving car at the time of the shooting and either fell or jumped from the vehicle.
Saturday’s homicide began with a 1:25 a.m. ShotSpotter activation report by the Springfield Police Department’s automated gunshot detection system.
Several hours earlier, city police responded to reports of gunfire in the city’s Upper Hill neighborhood, where a man was shot in the lower back around 8:30 p.m. Friday near the intersection of Marlborough and Wellington streets.
The victim, whose name wasn’t released, was being treated at Baystate Medical Center.
Staff writer Conor Berry contributed to this report.