No arrests in Holyoke murder case as slain teen is mourned on Facebook
HOLYOKE — City police detectives are still looking for the person who shot 19-year-old Jefforey Johnson in the chest Sunday night, making the Beech Street man the city's fourth homicide victim of the year.
No arrests had been made by early Monday morning, but Johnson's family and friends were already publicly mourning the slain teenager on Facebook.
A post by Holyoke resident Sara Nana – whose name and image appear in the "family" category on the page of one of Johnson's brothers – stated: "to my lil brother JEFFREY JOHNSON may you R.I.P lil (expletive) i love you so much you gone but neva forgotten!!! you will always live in my heart i love you forever!! rock those heavens [sic]."
In another post, Springfield resident Michael Roper, also identified as a family member, wrote: "RIP jeff ill miss u cuz, you never be forgotten cuzzo."
Police said the fatal shooting happened around 8:30 p.m. at 101 Beech St., located near Avery Field between Dwight and Hampden streets.
Holyoke Police Capt. Arthur R. Monfette told The Republican late Sunday night that Johnson was killed by "a shot to the chest," but he was unsure how many times the teenager was hit by gunfire.
Sgt. Richard Stuart said Johnson was found at 101 Beech St., where he also reportedly lived. But investigators said it was unclear if Johnson was killed inside or outside the home.
"It's under investigation by the Holyoke Criminal Investigation Bureau and the state police," Stuart said early Monday morning.
A detective in the Criminal Investigation Bureau characterized the case as "an active investigation," and she said that "everyone is working on it."
Police declined to discuss images of guns displayed on Johnson's Facebook page.
Johnson's final Facebook wall post, entered at 1:17 a.m. on Nov. 16, is a photo of a Luger-style handgun, which is shown being held by an unidentified person. A second photo shows a photo of a man, which appears to be Johnson, aiming a gun at the camera.
A comment below the photo by Gwendolyn Gallant, whose Facebook page says she "went to Amherst Regional High School," cautions: "Not on Facebook love..... [sic] Could get in trouble for it!!!! Legit!! But nice pics."
During the hours immediately after the shooting, Monfette expressed frustration at the lack of information coming from possible witnesses to the crime.
"We are not getting a lot of cooperation," he said.
The killing of Johnson follows back-to-back Holyoke gun deaths in June and a fatal stabbing in August.
Oscar Castro, 20, was shot to death June 19 outside a bar at 104 High St. There have been no arrests in the killing, which police believe was gang-related.
The following day, the body of Reynaldo Fuentes, 23, was was found riddled with bullets in a parking lot behind Las Chicas market, 341 Appleton St. Brothers Juan and Leonardo Perez, of Holyoke, were quickly arrested and charged with murder.
On Aug. 8, Miguel Rodriguez, 24, was stabbed to death outside a Sargeant Street apartment building after a dispute over money. Joshua Reyes, 20, of Holyoke, is facing charges in his death.
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