For Immediate Release: 7/6/2022 9:26 am
On July 5th 2022 at about 5:50 PM, Worcester Police officers were dispatched to the area of Mulberry St for a ShotSpotter activation. As two Gang Unit officers responded to the scene, they observed a Mercedes with a broken window and what appeared to be bullet holes on the side of the vehicle. The officers recognized the driver, Armando Cruz, twenty-four-years-old of Southbridge, and knew that he did not have an active driver’s license.
The officers activated their lights and siren and stopped the vehicle on Waverly St. Officers immediately observed that the passenger, Devonte Barnes, twenty-five-years-old of East Kendall St, was suffering from gunshot wounds. Officers called for an ambulance and Mr. Barnes was treated. Officers located a loaded handgun in the vehicle where Mr. Barnes was sitting. Mr. Barnes does not have a license to carry firearms. He was placed under arrest and transported to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. He is charged with Carrying a Loaded Firearm without a License and Carrying a Firearm without a License. Mr. Cruz is charged with Operating a Motor Vehicle with a Suspended License. Both will be arraigned in court.
The initial investigation indicated that the shooting occurred on I-290, so the Massachusetts State Police took over the investigation.
