Massachusetts
2 charged after second grader reportedly brought gun to Massachusetts school
Two people are facing firearms charges after a second grade student reportedly brought a gun to a school in Swansea, Massachusetts, the town’s police department said. Video above: 11,500 shootings occurred within 500 yards of U.S. schools last year. See the data in the video above.According to Swansea police, officers received a report that a second grade student may have brought a handgun to Mark G. Hoyle Elementary School and showed it to at least two other students. A search warrant issued for a home on Market Street turned up five firearms, none of which were registered or properly stored, police said.No one in the home possessed a Firearms Identification Card. Christopher Spangler, 61, and Heather Spangler, 43, are facing several charges, including reckless endangerment of a child and improper storage of a firearm near a minor. They will be arraigned on April 22 in Fall River District Court. According to Swansea police, since officers are mandated reporters, they also filed a report with the Department of Children and Families about the incident.”This situation had the potential to end in a tragedy,” said Swansea Police Chief Mark Foley. “Because of the work of our Swansea police investigators, no one was hurt, and several firearms that were possessed illegally and stored unsafely are now off the street.”An investigation into the incident is ongoing.
Two people are facing firearms charges after a second grade student reportedly brought a gun to a school in Swansea, Massachusetts, the town’s police department said.
Video above: 11,500 shootings occurred within 500 yards of U.S. schools last year. See the data in the video above.
According to Swansea police, officers received a report that a second grade student may have brought a handgun to Mark G. Hoyle Elementary School and showed it to at least two other students.
A search warrant issued for a home on Market Street turned up five firearms, none of which were registered or properly stored, police said.
No one in the home possessed a Firearms Identification Card.
Christopher Spangler, 61, and Heather Spangler, 43, are facing several charges, including reckless endangerment of a child and improper storage of a firearm near a minor.
They will be arraigned on April 22 in Fall River District Court.
According to Swansea police, since officers are mandated reporters, they also filed a report with the Department of Children and Families about the incident.
“This situation had the potential to end in a tragedy,” said Swansea Police Chief Mark Foley. “Because of the work of our Swansea police investigators, no one was hurt, and several firearms that were possessed illegally and stored unsafely are now off the street.”
An investigation into the incident is ongoing.
Massachusetts
Massachusetts man who killed ‘remarkable young woman’ in wrong-way crash is sentenced to prison
A man who robbed a 7-Eleven before killing a “remarkable young woman” in a wrong-way crash while fleeing police has been sentenced to prison.
Salem man William Leger, 40, is facing decades behind bars in connection to the death of Ashley Forward, 19, back in June of 2021.
Five years ago to the day, Leger committed a robbery at 7-Eleven on Lincoln Avenue in Saugus and then fled from a cop.
Leger drove a stolen vehicle south in the northbound lanes of Route 107, and collided with Forward’s vehicle.
Forward, of Lynn — who had just finished her first year as a nursing student at Emmanuel College — was killed in the crash. She was visiting her grandmother when the devastating crash happened.
Leger entered guilty pleas to charges of manslaughter, unarmed robbery, and receiving a stolen vehicle. He was sentenced to 18-20 years in state prison for the manslaughter charge, to be followed by 6-8 years in state prison for the unarmed robbery charge. That will be followed by five years of probation.
Before the sentencing, Forward’s younger sister Jillian and mother, Michelle Luongo, spoke about the impact of Leger’s actions and of Forward.
She was an athletic graduate of KIPP Academy Lynn Collegiate High School, who was on her to becoming a nurse. Also, Forward had volunteered with My Brother’s Table and the Boys & Girls Club of Lynn.
“Ashley was a remarkable young woman with a bright future ahead of her,” her mother said. “She was kind, compassionate, and always willing to help others no matter what… Nursing was not just a career choice for her – it reflected who she was.
“She wanted to care for people, to comfort them, and to heal them,” her mother added. “Her life mattered deeply – not just to her family, her friends, or the community where she gave so much of her time, but to the people she would have helped along the way.”
A Massachusetts man was arrested on numerous charges, including gun and drug offenses, police said.
Georgie Estrella, 41, of Attleboro was arrested shortly after 12:30 a.m. Tuesday on charges of manufacturing, delivering or possessing with intent the to deliver crystal methamphetamine, fentanyl, LSD, crack cocaine, psilocybin, clonazepam, alprazolam, and buprenorphine, carrying a pistol or revolver without a license or permit, possession of a firearm by certain persons prohibited, carrying a firearm when committing a crime of violence, possession of a firearm while committing a controlled substance violation, alteration of marks of identification on firearms, carjacking, attempted larceny of more than $10,000, assault on a police officer, vandalism or malicious injury to property, resisting arrest, obstructing a police officer in the execution of duty, and disorderly conduct, the Rhode Island State Police said in a media release.
Estrella was also arrested on three warrants charging him with failing to appear in court for drug cases, according to the release.
CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – The average gas price in Massachusetts has fallen by 10 cents from last week, now averaging $4.29 per gallon.
This decline occurs despite ongoing disruptions in global oil markets and overseas conflict.
According to AAA Northeast, the average gas price in Massachusetts is 17 cents lower than one month ago. However, prices remain $1.30 higher than the same day last year and 13 cents above the national average.
Petroleum markets remain unsettled as negotiations to end the war in Iran continue. The conflict in Iran has entered its 15th week, contributing to market instability. U.S. crude inventories are currently at their lowest levels since mid-February.
Local News Headlines
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Download the 22News Plus app on your TV to watch live-streaming newscasts and video on demand.
All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by WWLP. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat information into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by WWLP staff before being published.
-
Finance2 minutes agoThe Future of Finance Jobs In The Age Of AI
-
Fitness7 minutes agoRegular Exercise, Key To Wellness, Long Life – Fitness Expert
-
Movie Reviews17 minutes agoSteven Spielberg’s Disclosure Day early Rotten Tomatoes score finally revealed following wave of first reviews
-
World29 minutes agoVideo: Visiting a Soldier’s Funeral in Ukraine
-
News32 minutes agoVideo: Graham Platner Wins Maine Senate Primary
-
Politics37 minutes agoVideo: Life Inside an ICE Detention Facility
-
Lifestyle1 hour agoWhat makes a song a ‘millennial song’ : It’s Been a Minute
-
Technology1 hour agoMicrosoft is disabling Office 2019 for Mac next month
