A man from Meriden is facing multiple criminal charges following a shooting incident in Springfield, where authorities also uncovered drugs and stolen weapons.
Suspect Identified and Arrested
According to the Meriden Police Department, Javier Nieves, 30, was arrested on March 26 as part of an investigation led by the Springfield Police Special Victims Unit.
The case stems from a March 15 shooting linked to a domestic violence investigation.
Shooting Damaged Vehicles and School Property
Police responded to a ShotSpotter alert on Maple Street, where they discovered:
- Two vehicles struck by gunfire
- A damaged window at a nearby elementary school
Authorities confirmed the incident raised serious safety concerns due to its proximity to a school.
Investigation Leads to Key Evidence
Detectives identified Nieves as a suspect and obtained warrants for his arrest, residence, and vehicle. With assistance from Meriden police, officers located and arrested him.
During a search of his vehicle, investigators reportedly found:
- Approximately 30 grams of suspected cocaine
- Around 10 pills believed to be fentanyl
- More than 128 grams of marijuana
- Multiple firearms reported stolen from North Carolina
Charges and Legal Status
Nieves now faces several serious charges, including:
- Theft of a firearm (two counts)
- Illegal possession of an assault weapon
- Possession of narcotics
- Operating a drug factory
- Stalking
He is currently being held in Connecticut on a $750,000 bond and is expected to be extradited to Massachusetts for further legal proceedings.