HOLYOKE — After a sixth reported shooting in Holyoke in less than a week, police arrested a city woman on unlawful gun charges and another man who was with her on Tuesday night.

Leshmarie Marin-Viera, 20, of Holyoke was arrested on charges of possession of a firearm without a license to carry, possession/carrying a loaded firearm, possession of ammunition without an FID card and possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number, according to Holyoke Police Lt. Jim Albert. Israel Jimenez, 20, of Holyoke, was arrested on a charge of disorderly conduct. Both were arraigned in Holyoke District Court on Wednesday, Albert said. 

Albert said police responded to a report of shots fired at Sargeant and Walnut streets on Tuesday around 8:30 p.m. A suspect car was seen leaving the scene, Albert said, and officers had located several 9 mm shell casings in the area of 310 Walnut St. No victims were located, Albert said. 

Since the police department has increased patrols in the wake of gun violence in the city that has killed two people, police narcotics detectives and members of the FBI’s Western Mass Gang Task Force saw a male and female walking in the back parking lot area of 475 Maple St an hour later. 

“Given the nature of the investigation they were ordered at gunpoint to stop and comply but the male failed to comply and placed his hands in his pockets,” Albert said. “Detectives Will Delgado, Jared Hamel and another Gang Task Force Officer exhibited tremendous restraint and ultimately were able to secure both of them.”

Albert said that police found a loaded “Polymer 80” 9 MM semi-automatic handgun inside the purse Marin-Viera was holding. The suspect car was also found along with them and was towed, Albert said. 

The investigation into this case is ongoing, Albert said. Police do not believe Tuesday’s shooting is connected to any of the most recent shootings but they are not ruling it out as a possibility, Albert said. 

Michael Connors can be reached at mconnors@gazettenet.com.]]>