4-Year-Old Left Alone in Car With Loaded Gun

Two men in Springfield, Massachusetts, face several charges

Two men each face several charges after a four-year-old child was found unrestrained in a car with a loaded handgun.

A police detective was in the North End of Springfield, Massachusetts, around 1 p.m. Tuesday, conducting a separate investigation, when he noticed a large group of men involved in a violent confrontation. A backup crew was called in and calm was restored to the area.

An hour-and-a-half later, the same detective saw two men known to him in a heated conversation about the earlier fight. One of the men had an automatic handgun tucked in his pants.

Detective Mark Templeman watched as both men walked over to a car and opened the door. The man with the gun took the firearm from his pants, placed the loaded weapon under the driver's seat and shut the door.

Both men continued to walk a short distance from the Nissan Murano. A short while later, Templeman saw the vehicle drive away and he followed the vehicle, before performing a felony stop.

Officers Barry Delamarter and Robert Majewski from the Uniformed Division assisted with the stop along with Detectives Templeman and Jamie Bruno.

A fully loaded .30 caliber semi-automatic handgun was recovered from the vehicle. A four-year-old boy was found unrestrained, crying in the back seat.

The Department of Youth and Family Services was called for the child.

Luis Burgos, 36, of Springfield was arrested. He faces several charges, including carrying a loaded firearm and wanton/reckless behavior with risk of injury to a child.

Detectives then combed the area looking for the other suspect, but were unsuccessful in finding him.

While Burgos was being booked, a man inquiring about the arrest of Burgos appeared at police headquarters. He was then identified as the other suspect and arrested.

Armando Robles, 21, also of Springfield, faces the same charges as Burgos.

Both suspects will be arraigned Wednesday in Springfield District Court.

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