HOLYOKE — City police arrested three people and seized two handguns after responding to a Tuesday afternoon shooting in South Holyoke during which gunfire went through the windows of three apartments.

Police responded to the area of Hamilton and Clemente streets at 4:45 p.m. for a report of shots fired, according to Holyoke Police Lt. James Albert. Officers found numerous empty shell casings in the roadway of Hamilton Street, as well as several tenants from #131 Clemente St. who were outside and “very upset,” Albert said.

The tenants showed officers ballistic strikes and bullet holes on the side of the building as well as bullet holes in the windshield of a parked commercial dump truck, Albert said. They also pointed out to police that gunshots were fired through the windows of three apartments.

“No gunshot victims were located but several families who were left upset and in fear advised officers that there were children within the rooms when the bullets went through those windows,” Albert said, noting that Carlos Vega Park is within 20 feet of the crime scene.

Federal and local authorities developed information that led to a search warrant of an apartment at 121 Clemente St. where they found boxes of ammunition, a loaded “Star” .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun that was determined to be stolen out of Warren County, New York, and a 9mm semi-automatic Glock handgun, Albert said.

Jose Cruz, 23, of Chicopee, was on probation at the time of his arrest and was wearing a GPS ankle bracelet. He was charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (handgun), discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling, possession of a firearm without a license to carry, possession of ammunition without an FID card, receiving stolen property (stolen handgun), operation of a motor vehicle with a suspended license, and on a probation warrant issued upon arrest as well as a straight warrant.

Hector Diaz-Torres, 18, of Holyoke, was also on probation at the time of his arrest and was wearing a GPS ankle bracelet. He was charged with possession of ammunition without an FID card and on a straight warrant.

Another person, a homeless 15-year-old male, was arrested on two straight warrants and charged with possession of ammunition without an FID card.

Cruz and Diaz-Torres were booked and transported to the Hampden County Jail in Ludlow and were arraigned in Holyoke District Court, Albert said. The teenager will be processed in the Juvenile Court.

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