Updated Tuesday evening with images.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Police are seeking information on a robbery Sunday evening at the Big Y Express gas station and convenience store on West Street. 

 

The robbery was reported at about 4:55 p.m. Responding officers learned that a man had entered the conenience store, made a threat to an employee and demanded money. No weapon was displayed. 

 

The man was given an amount of cash and he left the area, most likely on foot. No one was injured during the incident.

 

The suspect is described as being white or Hispanic man in his 30s or 40s, approximately 5-foot-9 or shorter with dark brown eyes and bushy eyebrows. He was wearing a gray and black Adidas ball cap, light blue or gray face covering, dark sweatshirt, blue and black backpack, gray sweat pants, and red Nike sneakers. 

 

Images from the store's video surveillance system will be released at a later date.

 

Anyone who may have information is asked to contact Lt. John Soules at 413-448-9700, Ext. 599. Information can also be provided anonymously via the Tip Line at 413-448-9706, texting PITTIP and your message to TIP411 (847411).

RICHMOND, Mass. --- A Pittsfield man died in a single-car collision on Saturday afternoon.

 

Austin Shaw, 25, was killed when his Buick sedan failed to negotiate a curve on Route 41, veering off the road, and crashing into a tree. An infant in the vehicle suffered little to no injuries, according a release from the Berkshire district attorney's office.

 

Investigators believe Shaw was northbound at approximately 2:30 p.m. when the collision occurred. He was treated by County Ambulance personnel and was pronounced dead at the scene. 

 

Investigators did not find evidence suggesting any alcohol or drugs were involved. Preliminary evidence suggests speed may have been a contributing factor. The State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section continue to investigate the collision along with local law enforcement and the state police assigned to the district attorney's office.

 

Passers-by called 911 and removed the infant from the vehicle. EMTs transported the infant to Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield for evaluation and the child was subsequently released.

 

The state Department of Transportation closed Route 41 to traffic from about 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Richmond firefighters extracted Shaw from the vehicle and R.W.'s Towing removed it.

PITTISFIELD, Mass. — Firefighters were able to save two structures from significant damage over the weekend.

 

The first occurred on Saturday morning in a two-unit apartment building at 126 Union St. that the Fire Department said was caused by "careless disposal of smoking materials."

 

Three engines and the ladder truck responded at 9:17 a.m. to reports of smoke detectors going off in one of the apartments in the two-story, wood-frame building.

 

"Upon arrival we found smoke showing from a first-floor window," Deputy Chief Daniel Garner reported. Engine 5 secured the water supply while Engine 2 searched the building. 

 

The fire was contained to a first-floor bedroom. No one was injured but damage was estimated at $5,000. The occupants of the apartment were provided with temporary accommodations by the Red Cross but residents in the other apartment were allowed to return to their home. 

 

The second fire occurred Sunday evening at 6:33 p.m. at 42 Plunkett St. The fire was in the rear of the three-story building. 

 

"Upon arrival we found fire on the rear third-floor deck and extending up along siding and under the deck roof," said Deputy Chief Neil Myers.

 

The top apartment suffered fire and water damage in the rear and minor smoke damage throughout. Myers estimated damage at $5,000. 

 

All the occupants were able to get out of the building and no one was injured, including a cat and dog that were in the apartment's front bedroom. 

 

The cause of the fire is still under investigation but all the occupants were able to return to their homes. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Police are seeking information about a shooting on Friday night that injured a city man. 

 

Police were alerted by ShotSpotter that "numerous rounds" were being fired in the 300 Block on Fenn Street at about 10:40 p.m. The alert was followed by multiple 911 calls from citizens.

 

Officers responded to the area and discovered numerous shell casings. In addition to the shell casings, officers discovered that a parked vehicle and a nearby residence were struck by bullets.

 

As officers continued their on-scene investigation, Berkshire Medical Center

notified dispatch that a gunshot victim was in the Emergency Department. Officers responded to the hospital and interviewed a 33-year-old Pittsfield resident who had been shot in the foot. 

 

The circumstances surrounding the shooting are being investigated by the Pittsfield Police Detective Unit. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Lt. Michael Maddalena at 413-448-9705, Ext. 574.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — An early morning fire forced the evacuation of about 18 people from a boarding house on Union Street. 

 

The fire started in a back common kitchen on the top floor about 2 a.m. and spread up through a vent. It took almost two hours to ensure it was it completely out.

 

Fire Chief Stephen Meranti said the department was familiar with the building and has responded to burnt food in the past. 

 

"This time it extend up into the exhaust fan got up into the area above the ceiling, it followed the ductwork," he said. "It was burning on top of the stove — that set the sprinklers off — but it was also burning above the ceiling."

 

Some occupants of the building at 174-178 Union St. were coming out as firefighters were going in and they assisted the rest in exiting the building. More than a dozen people, some wrapped in blankets passed out by Northern Berkshire EMS, watched firefighters tackled the stubborn blaze. 

 

Smoke was coming out of the top of the 1910 three-story building when first-responders arrived on the scene. It billowed out of the open porch in the back connecting the structure to 8 Rand St. and out the front eaves.

 

An all call was sent out to bring in all three shifts. Northern Berkshire EMS and Wire & Alarm also responded along with Berkshire Gas and National Grid.

 

"The guys did a great job knocking it down in real, real smoky conditions," Meranti said. "The did a really good job." 

 

The structure suffered significant smoke and water damage as well as some structural damage. Meranti thought the entire upper floor would have to be gutted. 

 

"Right now we're trying to save the utilities because that building in the back is fed from this building in the front," he said. "The owner has contractors here for gas and electricity. They're trying to salvage the utilities over here to keep that building (8 Rand) up and running."

 

The electrical and sprinkler lines run through both buildings so have to be capped or shunted so the Rand Street building would not have to be closed. It also has about 20 rooms with common areas. 

 

Those who had to evacuate were taken by Northern Berkshire Transport to First Baptist Church where the Rev. David Anderson was working to get them a place stay for the night. 

 

Both buildings are owned by Union Rand Nominee Trust, part of the Ransford Properties portfolio. 

 

The structure is also the home of the popular Linda's Cafe, which had closed earlier in the week because of the emergency orders related to the novel coronavirus..