Holyoke PD: Teen shoplifter, shot twice in volley with police, remains hospitalized

HOLYOKE — A 17-year-old who was wounded by police during a shootout in the region's largest mall Friday afternoon was accused of shoplifting twice in two days from the JCPenney store.

It is unclear when the teenager will be arraigned, and Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni's Office has not returned a request for information about the shooting and the charges that the suspect faces.

"He underwent surgery and is still in the hospital," Police Chief Brian Keenan said Sunday. The teenager is expected to recover from his injuries.

The suspect, whose name has not been released because of his age, is a Springfield resident and was under the supervision of the Department of Youth Services for previous crimes before the shooting, he said.

"He is known to police in Springfield," said Keenan, who served as a Springfield Police Department captain and head of its Firearms Investigation Unit before taking over as Holyoke police chief six months ago.

The shooting, which took place around 4:30 p.m., started when a security guard at JCPenney spotted the 17-year-old allegedly shoplifting, he said.

The same employee spotted the teen a day before and believed he was stealing again, so he followed him and saw him concealing goods. The second time, the guard was able to alert a pair of Holyoke police officers, who were patrolling the mall, Keenan said.

When the two officers confronted the teenager on the first floor near Round1 Bowling & Arcade, he pulled out a gun and started firing at police. The officers returned fire, and one struck the suspect at least twice, Keenan said.

Police provided first aid until emergency medical personnel arrived. They also recovered a semi-automatic pistol that the suspect fired, Keenan said.

The officer who hit the suspect is out on personal leave, as is protocol after a police-involved shooting. Massachusetts State Police under the Hampden District Attorney's Office and Holyoke police are investigating to determine if the shooting was justified, but Keenan said a preliminary look shows that officers followed procedure.

"They reacted as trained, and they did a good job," he said, adding he was relieved no bystanders were injured.

Police are working to trace the origin of the gun that the 17-year-old used. The teenager did not have a firearm permit, Keenan said.

State law prohibits anyone under 21 from purchasing a handgun legally.

The shooting left people running for exits, and the chaos was exacerbated by a pulled fire alarm. The mall was later evacuated for the night while police investigated, he said.

Holyoke police and state police provided extra security to the mall for the weekend, and Keenan said that will continue for the foreseeable future.

During a press conference Friday night, Keenan and Mayor Joshua Garcia called the shooting an isolated incident and said the mall continues to be a safe place to shop.

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