DA: Escaped Prisoner Shoots 2 Officers In Springfield
SPRINGFIELD (CBS) – An escaped prisoner shot a State Trooper and a Springfield police officer on Saturday, before being shot himself, according to the D.A. The officers were both wearing bullet-proof vests and are expected to survive.
Around noon on Saturday, officials said someone walked into a barber shop and shot two people. One of those victims was killed.
WBZ-TV's Alana Gomez reports from Springfield
Tamik Kirkland, who escaped from a prison in Shirley this week is a suspect in that shooting. Investigators say they do not know the motive, but confirm that Kirkland's mother was injured in a shooting last week. They acknowledge the possibility that Saturday's barber shop shooting may have been a revenge-killing.
Officers say shortly after the shooting, they received a tip that the shooter was in a nearby house. They witnessed Kirkland leaving that house and jumping into the trunk of a car in the driveway.
Police surrounded the car and pulled out the driver. At that point, the trunk was popped and Kirkland started shooting.
Police are not identifying the officers but say both are expected to survive.
Officers returned fire and shot Kirkland, who was taken to the hospital, and is in critical condition and under a heavy police guard.
Police say the driver, a woman, and a 6-month-old child, who was still in the car, were both treated for minor injuries.
According to police, Kirkland is known to be affiliated with the Maynard Street Posse street gang.
