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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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Pittsfield Man Facing Charges in Hit-and-Run

Staff Reports
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A city man is facing charges in Vermont related to a hit-and-run crash that seriously injured a pedestrian. 
 
The Bennington (Vt.) Banner reports that Nelsin Martin, 21, is facing a felony charge in the May 8 incident. He could face up to 15 years behind bars if found guilty.
 
The crash occurred on Route 7 near the intersection with Route 346 at about 6:38 a.m. A witness and video from a Pownal school bus indicated that two vehicles were driving south down the highway nearly side by side at an excessive speed. The witness said they appeared to be racing, according to the Banner. A third vehicle was mentioned by it was not clear if it was involved. 
 
The pedestrian, 37-year-old Adrienne Formel of Pownal, was struck by the vehicle in the far right lane, which was either trying to pass in the breakdown lane or was "bumped" by another vehicle, according to witnesses.  
 
The victim was taken to Albany (N.Y.) Medical Center with life-threatening injuries, including a broken arm, and had to have her right leg amputated. 
 
Vermont State Police identified two vehicles, a white Chevrolet Silverado and a white Volkswagen sedan, which both fled the scene south into Massachusetts and were last seen on North Hoosac Road in Williamstown. By the end of the day, they had identified both the vehicles and the drivers. 
 
Martin is expected to be arraigned next week. 
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