Pittsfield Police Asking Public's Help After 5th Shooting in Two Weeks

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Police are investigating a Thursday evening shooting that resulted in two vehicles being struck by bullets, one of which had small children inside. This is only one of a slew of shooting incidents that have recently occurred in the city and the police are asking for the public's help.

On Thursday around 11 p.m., Pittsfield Police responded to a Shotspotter activation in the area of 266 Francis Ave. and upon arrival, found a motor vehicle that has been struck by gunfire.

There were three occupants in the vehicle, two of the occupants were small children. No injuries were reported and a second unoccupied vehicle was also struck by bullets.

Within the past two weeks, members of the Pittsfield Police Department have responded to at least five confirmed shooting incidents within the city limits. There were confirmed shootings on June 1, June 2, and June 3, and eight confirmed shootings during the month of May as well as a shooting homicide in April.

These incidents include an early morning incident on First Street on Tuesday that left a 27-year-old Pittsfield man with multiple gunshot wounds. The man's injuries were not considered life-threatening and though the incident is still under investigation, it appears that the victim was targeted by the assailant and there is no threat to the public.

Police are investigating the shootings to prevent further gunfire but they say they cannot do it alone and need the public's help.

Police are urging anyone with information to come forward — even anonymously — through the Detective Bureau Tip Line at 413-448-9706 or by texting PITTIP and your message to TIP411 (847411.)

Lenco Celebrates $5M in Capital Investments

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:34AM / Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Executive Vice President Lenny Light says it's not the equipment but the staff that gives Lenco its competitive advantage. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Lenco Armored Vehicles has embarked on a $5 million capital investment project for faster, better manufacturing. 

 

A ribbon was cut on Monday in front of the company's new Trumpf TruLaser 3080, a machine designed to cut extra-large sheets of metal. This will increase the efficiency of building armored tactical vehicles, such as the BearCat, by about 40 percent. 

 

Executive Vice President Lenny Light recalled the Lenco's beginnings in 1981, when it operated out of 3,000 square feet on Merrill Road with 15 employees.  Today, Lenco has 170,000 square feet of manufacturing space and nearly 150 employees. 

 

"The work that we do here in Pittsfield contributes to millions of dollars being put back into our local economy. We're the largest commercial armored rescue vehicle manufacturer in the United States. We're one of the most respected brands locally. We also now own the largest fiber laser in the United States. It's the only one of its kind in the Northeast," he said, motioning to the massive, modern machinery. 

 

"But the equipment that we have is not our competitive advantage — our welders, our forklifts, our cranes — any company can buy this same exact equipment." 

 

Rather than the equipment, he said, it's the staff who shows up every day with a can-do attitude that gives Lenco its competitive advantage. 

 

Planning for the industrial cutter began 18 months ago, when the company needed to decide if it was the right equipment for the future. Trumpf, named for its founder, is a German-headquartered global manufacturer of high-end metal processing (computer numerical control) machines, including laser technology. The TruLaser 3080 uses a high-intensity laser beam to cut through metals with speed and accuracy.