Teen boy held pending dangerousness hearing in connection with Holyoke Mall shooting
A 17-year-old boy was ordered held pending a dangerousness hearing on charges in connection with a shooting at Holyoke Mall on Friday afternoon , the Hampden district attorney's office said.
At around 4:30 p.m. on July 25, a Holyoke Mall security officer saw a person shoplifting and alerted police. When police approached the suspect near the entrance to Round One, he pulled out a gun, Hampden County District Attorney Anthony Gulluni's office said in a statement.
Both the suspect and one officer fired their weapons. The officer was not hit, but the teen sustained at least one gunshot wound, according to the statement.
Holyoke officers provided medical aid to the boy, who was taken to Baystate Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. Police found a gun at the scene, according to the statement.
The teen was arrested and arraigned virtually on Monday in Springfield Juvenile Court. At the arraignment, the teen was held without bail based on a dangerousness detainer. Probable cause was found and a dangerousness hearing was set for Aug. 4.
A judge set bail for the teen at $100,000 cash, without prejudice.
Prosecutors say they intend to pursue a youthful offender indictment for the teen, which would allow the judge to sentence him as a juvenile or adult, should he be convicted or plead guilty. Youthful offender cases remain in Juvenile Court, but are public, unlike most cases there.
"This harrowing situation could have ended much worse. Juveniles and guns is a recipe for disaster," said Gulluni. "The juvenile's alleged behavior is appalling and we will seek accountability to the fullest extent of the law. We are grateful that no innocent people or officers were injured."
Holyoke Police Chief Brian Keenan emphasized the mall was a safe place to visit during a press conference immediately after the shooting.
The shooting remains under investigation.
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