A murder-suicide case unfolded in Springfield, Massachusetts, as a 34-year-old man broke into his neighbor’s apartment and carried out a deadly shooting. The assailant, identified as Victor Nieves, shot a woman, a dog, and two of the woman’s grandchildren before turning the gun on himself. The Springfield Police Department discovered a devastating scene of tragedy and trauma.
On Monday afternoon, at approximately 2:40 p.m., authorities were alerted to gunshots heard at an apartment in Springfield. Upon arrival, officers found the lifeless bodies of Nieves, the shooter, Kim Fairbanks, the 52-year-old woman, and a dog. The Hampden District Attorney’s Office confirmed the tragic incident in a news release. Additionally, three children, aged 12, 10, and 5, were present in the apartment. The older two kids were rushed to nearby hospitals for immediate medical attention.
The 10-year-old girl was airlifted to a hospital in Boston for gunshot wounds. The 12-year-old girl was also taken to a hospital in Springfield for shooting injuries and is currently in stable condition. Thankfully, the five-year-old boy was unharmed during the gunfire. Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni expressed his deep sorrow, describing the incident as “one of the most heinous and cowardly acts” he has witnessed during his tenure.
According to the release, Nieves resided in an apartment upstairs. He forcibly entered Fairbanks’ apartment through the front door before commencing the shooting spree. Springfield Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood, visibly shaken, described the incident as one of the most heart-wrenching in her over forty years of service. She emphasized the need to provide support for the officers involved, acknowledging the traumatic nature of the scene they encountered.
As the investigation unfolds, the Springfield Police Department and the Hampden District Attorney’s Murder Unit are working diligently to uncover the motive behind this tragic event.