In an ongoing investigation into a series of shootings in Springfield, Massachusetts, a dangerousness hearing has been set for the suspects involved in the shooting of a police officer. Four of the seven suspects are expected to appear in Springfield District Court on Thursday morning.

The purpose of the dangerousness hearing is to assess whether the suspects should be held without bail or conditions of release until their trial. If the prosecution can provide evidence that the suspects pose a danger to the public, they can be detained for a maximum period of four months.

The incidents began on Wednesday, June 5th, when individuals in a Honda Civic allegedly opened fire on detectives on College Street. The Civic was later discovered by officers in the vicinity of Riverview Terrace. Three occupants, identified as 18-year-old Robert Willis III, 18-year-old Alberto Torres, and a 17-year-old boy, all hailing from Springfield, were subsequently arrested on the I-91 on-ramp. During the arrest, police seized four firearms, two of which were equipped with Glock Switches, effectively transitioning them into fully automatic weapons.

Another shooting occurred on State Street near Hunter Place at around 10:42 p.m. that same evening. Individuals in a Jeep Cherokee allegedly fired multiple rounds from an AR-15 style rifle at an unmarked police cruiser. Although no officers were injured, Officer Nestor Santos, who was en route to work, was struck by gunfire. The Jeep was later located at a residence on Randall Place. Police subsequently arrested 18-year-old Isak Font, 26-year-old Dwight Clarke, and a 16-year-old boy, all Springfield residents, in connection with the incident. Three firearms were recovered from the scene, and a fourth suspect, 31-year-old Jaime Griffin, was apprehended inside the residence. A search warrant executed at approximately 5 a.m. yielded the seizure of additional firearm magazines and ammunition.

The four suspects from the Honda Civic shooting, namely Robert Willis III, Alberto Torres, Isak Font, and Jaime Griffin, are expected to appear in Springfield District Court on Thursday afternoon. It has been alleged that Isak Font used the rifle to shoot both the officer and the police cruiser.

Officer Nestor Santos, who sustained gunshot wounds to the face and leg, has since been released from Mass General Hospital in Boston on Thursday.

The dangerousness hearing will be critical in determining the legality of holding the suspects without bail or release as the investigation into these series of shootings in Springfield continues.