7 suspects arrested in connection with shooting of police officer in Springfield

Duncan MacLean and Ashley Shook

6 mins ago

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SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts (WWLP) – Seven people have been arrested in connection with the shooting of a Springfield police officer Wednesday night.

According to a press release from Springfield Police spokesman Ryan Walsh, detectives from the Firearms Investigation Unit were fired upon in a Honda Civic on College Street around 10:40 p.m. Shortly thereafter, individuals in a Jeep Cherokee fired at and struck an unmarked patrol car on State Street near Hunter Place.

A Springfield police officer who was on his way to work was also shot by a suspect in the Jeep. The officer stopped in the area of the 600 block of State Street and was taken to Baystate Medical Center with serious injuries but is expected to recover.

In the city of Springfield, several incidents involving police occurred overnight. Streets and highways from the South End Bridge to State Street and even Interstate 91 had to be closed. In addition to officers from Springfield, state troopers were also seen there, examining several damaged cars. The road was closed for hours.

A sign was taped to the front door of the CVS store on State Street that read: “Closed – Due to a shooting, we are temporarily closed tonight until 7:00 p.m.” The location is normally open 24 hours a day.

Isak Font is said to have shot a police officer in Springfield with an AR-15 rifle

Police arrested seven suspects and seized a total of seven illegal firearms, including an AR-15 style rifle. Police say the 18-year-old Isak Font is said to have used the rifle to shoot the officer and the patrol car.

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State police then closed southbound I-91 due to an accident that apparently involved three vehicles; two of the cars had front-end damage. The highway has since reopened. Investigators were seen at Randall Place at a home and boat repair business in the area.