Three arrested in connection with Fernald Street shooting involving unmarked police cruiser
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Three suspects have been arrested in connection with last week's shooting incident on Fernald Street, where undercover detectives were fired upon, Springfield Police announced Thursday.
Suspect arrested in connection with multi-agency search after Springfield police vehicle hit by gunfire
According to police, the initial incident occurred on Thursday, January 23rd, at around 7 p.m., when detectives conducting surveillance in the Fernald Street area where their unmarked cruisers were shot at more than a dozen times. Although no officers were injured, it remains unclear if the shooters were aware they were targeting law enforcement.
Following the gunfire, police launched an extensive two-hour search in the North Branch Parkway area for the suspects. Later that night, investigators identified Christopher O'Bara as a person of interest and found him at a home on Lancaster Street. A search of the residence led to the seizure of a large-capacity firearm, shell casings, loose ammunition, and a collection of suspected stolen items, including more than 30 keys or key fobs and a stolen license plate.
Authorities also obtained a search warrant for a residence on Fernald Street, where they recovered a second firearm. A third firearm was discovered the next day in the area of Jennings Street, near where the initial search for suspects had taken place.
As the investigation progressed, police arrested 20-year-old Damian Scott on Saturday, Jan. 25, on Carew Street. Scott was under investigation for his alleged involvement in the shooting and was also suspected of multiple car thefts across Springfield. At the time of his arrest, he had four outstanding warrants related to auto thefts and an additional warrant for cocaine trafficking.
On the morning of Thursday, Jan. 30, police executed more arrests. Dwayne Johnson, 22, and Derek Johnson Sr., 48, were taken into custody at the La Quinta Hotel on Congress Street. Officers seized more than 100 grams of cocaine and marijuana inside the hotel room. Meanwhile, a 17-year-old male suspect was arrested on Fernald Street on firearms-related charges.
Police identified Dwayne Johnson as the suspect who allegedly fired at the undercover detectives. Both Johnson and Derek Johnson Sr. are scheduled to be arraigned in Springfield District Court on Friday.
Dwayne Johnson faces multiple charges, including:
Two counts of firearm-armed assault to murder
Two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon
Two counts of malicious destruction of property over $1,200
Two counts of malicious damage to a motor vehicle
Discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building
Carrying a firearm without a license
Carrying a loaded firearm without a license
Cocaine trafficking (100-200 grams)
Possession with intent to distribute a Class D drug
Derek Johnson Sr. has been charged with:
Cocaine trafficking (100-200 grams)
Possession with intent to distribute a Class D drug
Possession of a firearm without an FID card
Receiving a firearm with a defaced serial number
Improper storage of a firearm
Possession of ammunition without an FID card
The name of the 17-year-old suspect has not been released due to his age. The investigation remains ongoing.
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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