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Pittsfield Man Facing Murder Charge in Monday Night Shooting

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Laquan Johnson, 27, the suspect in Monday's shooting in Pittsfield, has now been charged with murder after one of the victims has died. 
 
Stephan Curley, 26, also of Pittsfield, succumbed to his injuries at Berkshire Medical Center overnight. The other victim sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
 
Johnson is accused of shooting Curley and the unidentified woman on Von Nida Avenue on Monday night. The victims were able to take themselves to Berkshire Medical Center. On Monday night, Curley was reported to have been in surgery.  
 
Johnson was arrested not long after the incident and was arraigned Tuesday on a single count of murder. He had a not-guilty plea entered on his behalf at arraignment in Central Berkshire District Court. The Berkshire District Attorney's Office moved to have him detained pretrial without bail, which the court granted.
 
Johnson also faces charges of assault to murder, possession of a firearm without an FID card, and possession of ammunition without an FID card.
 
"I send my condolences to Mr. Curley's family and friends who are mourning his loss," District Attorney Andrea Harrington said. "Gun violence in our community is completely unacceptable and my office remains dedicated to holding perpetrators of these crimes accountable."
 

Original post at 10:10 p.m., April 4, 2022: PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A 27-year-old Pittsfield man is being charged in a shooting that injured two people, one seriously, on Monday night. 
 
Laquan Johnson was arrested within hours of the incident and will be transported to Pittsfield District Court on Tuesday morning for arraignment.
 
Police responded at about 4:22 p.m. on Monday to a ShotSpotter activation near the intersection of King Street and Von Nida Avenue. Responding officers say they located evidence of the shooting and shell casings at the scene.
 
Investigating officers learned that two gunshot victims drove themselves to BMC following this incident. Officers who responded to BMC spoke with an adult female victim who had sustained a non-life threatening gunshot wound. The second victim, an adult male, was taken into surgery for what are considered life-threatening gunshot wounds.
 
Detectives say a known suspect fired several rounds at the victims, which resulted in the injuries to both and that this lead to the arrest of Johnson. 
 
Anyone who wishes to provide information regarding this incident is asked to contact
Detective Civello at 448-9700, Ext. 522. Information can also be provided anonymously via the Detective Bureau Tip Line at 413-448-9706, or by texting PITTIP and your message to TIP411 (847411).

Tags: murder,   shooting,   

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New Camp Is Safe Place for Children Suffering Loss to Addiction

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

Last year's Happy Campers courtesy of Max Tabakin.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A new camp is offering a safe place for children who have lost a parent or guardian to addiction. 
 
Director Gayle Saks founded the nonprofit "Camp Happy Place" last year. The first camp was held in June with 14 children.
 
Saks is a licensed drug and alcohol counselor who works at the Brien Center. One of her final projects when studying was how to involve youth, and a camp came to mind. Camp had been her "happy place" growing up, and it became her dream to open her own.
 
"I keep a bucket list in my wallet, and it's right on here on this list, and I cross off things that I've accomplished," she said. "But it is the one thing on here that I knew I had to do."
 
The overnight co-ed camp is held at a summer camp in Winsted, Conn., where Saks spent her summers as a child. It is four nights and five days and completely free. Transportation is included as are many of the items needed for camping. The camp takes up to 30 children.
 
"I really don't think there's any place that exists specifically for this population. I think it's important to know, we've said this, but that it is not a therapeutic camp," Saks said.
 
She said the focus is on fun for the children, though they are able to talk to any of the volunteer and trained staff. The staff all have experience in social work, addiction and counseling, and working with children.
 
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