24-year-old former Springfield resident Tamik Kirkland, convicted of firearm and other charges, has escaped from state prison in Shirley

Kirkland, formerly of 20 Carver St., was declared an escapee Monday morning.

Tamik Kirkland

SPRINGFIELD – A 24-year-old city man, who pleaded guilty to firearm and other charges some 17 months ago in Hampden Superior Court, was declared an escapee from state prison Monday morning.

Tamik Kirkland, formerly of 20 Carver St., was declared an escapee shortly after 7:30 a.m., according to a release issued by the Massachusetts Department of Correction.

The Republican Newspaper and Masslive.com reported that Kirkland was one of three suspects arrested on July 2, 2008 after shots, which missed their intended victims, were fired at State and Andrew streets.

Charges against Kirkland, city resident Seneca Slaughter (then 24) and a juvenile included armed assault with intent to murder.
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Kirkland pleaded guilty and was sentenced Nov. 19 in Hampden Superior Court on charges of possession of a large capacity firearm, carrying a firearm without a license, carrying a loaded firearm, possession of ammunition without a firearms identification card and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, according to The Republican.

Kirkland was serving 2½ to 4 years. He was sentenced that same day, with an effective date of Oct. 14, 2009. His parole eligibility was February 15, 2012, and his release date was August 16, 2013, the release states.

Local and state police and the department’s Fugitive Apprehension unit have been notified of Kirkland’s escape.

The release states that Kirkland, when apprehended, will be released to higher custody. The department will work with the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office to pursue criminal charges. If Kirkland is convicted of escape his sentence could be extended.

Slaughter faced identical charges as Kirkland. They were dismissed by the prosecution which instead charged Slaughter with being an accessory after the fact to unlawful possession of a firearm.

Slaughter also pleaded guilty before Judge Judd J. Carhart. He received a suspended, 18-month jail term and was placed on probation for two years.