Homicide Investigation Leads to Two Arrests in June 29 Shooting
November 24, 2025 – Springfield, Massachusetts – On Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, at approximately 11:40 a.m., members of the Springfield Police Homicide Unit, Springfield Police Firearms Investigation Unit, Massachusetts State Police VFAS, Hampden County Sheriff’s Department and United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force located and arrested Erick Osorio-Rivera, 33, of Springfield, on the 800 block of State Street in connection with a June 29, 2025 shooting.
At approximately 6:25 p.m. on Sunday, June 29 officers responded to the 100 block of Oak Grove Avenue for a ShotSpotter activation. Officers located an adult male gunshot victim. The victim was transported to Baystate with serious injuries. On July 12, the victim, identified by the Hampden District Attorney’s Office as Felix Ponce-Cardona, 22, of Springfield, succumbed to his injuries.
The Springfield Police Homicide Unit under the direction of Captain Trent Duda continued investigating in conjunction with the Hampden District Attorney’s Murder Unit. Homicide Detectives identified two suspects in connection with the murder: Vidal Hernandez-Vazquez, 19, of Springfield, and Osorio-Rivera. On Nov. 17, Detectives applied for and were granted a warrant for their arrests.
Hernandez-Vazquez was served his murder warrant at the Hampden County Correctional Center in Ludlow where he has been held since a Sept. 17 arrest on drug trafficking and illegal firearms charges.
Hernandez-Vazquez was arraigned on Nov. 20 and was held without the right to bail. He is charged with:
- Arrest Warrant– Murder
– Carrying a Firearm without a License
– Carrying a Loaded Firearm without a License
– Discharging a Firearm within 500 Feet of a Building
Osorio-Rivera was arraigned on Nov. 19 and was held without the right to bail. He is charged with:
- Arrest Warrant– Murder
– Assault & Battery with a Dangerous Weapon
Both Hernandez-Vazquez and Osorio-Rivera are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni extends his sympathies to the victim’s family.
