BELCHERTOWN — A Belchertown man was arrested on a murder charge Monday in relation to the 2021 shooting death of Charleen Figueroa in Springfield.

According to a release from the Springfield Police Department, Victor Oquendo, 25, was arrested in Belchertown at approximately 12:55 p.m. outside the 100 block of North Main Street by officers from multiple agencies. He was transferred to Springfield Police headquarters for processing.

Oquendo was set to be arraigned in Springfield District Court on Tuesday,

Oquendo is facing charges of murder, three counts of firearm-armed assault to murder, carrying a loaded firearm without a license, carrying a firearm without a license, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building and malicious damage to a motor vehicle.

According to the Springfield Police Department, 22-year-old Charleen Figueroa was found in her car suffering from a gunshot wound in the early morning hours of Nov. 28 of last year, after police responded to West Alvord Street. Figueroa died on the scene, police said. Springfield detectives were granted a warrant for Oquendo’s arrest on Thursday.

Another person, 32-year-old Chad Alexander, was shot outside a home in the vicinity of the car in which Figueroa was found. He was transported to Baystate Medical Center that same evening, and died on Dec. 11 after succumbing to his injuries.

Both shootings occurred as a result of a gun battle in the area, according to Ryan Walsh, the public information officer for the Springfield Police Department.

The investigation into the shootings is ongoing, Walsh said.

Bera Dunau can be reached at bdunau@gazette]]>