Three Injured in Pittsfield Halloweentime Shootings

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Three city residents sustained gunshot wounds while in the larger downtown area this week.

The Pittsfield Police Department responded to shooting reports on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday on First Street and Pleasant Street.  A person was shot during each incident but injuries were considered non-life threatening.  

Two incidents on Pleasant Street are believed to be related.

These do not appear to be random acts of violence, police say, and are not a threat to the general public. There is no further information at this time.

On Oct. 30 just after 7:30 p.m., police responded to the 100 block of First Street for a party who had been shot. The 34-year-old male Pittsfield resident sustained one gunshot wound that was not considered to be life-threatening and was transported to Berkshire Medical Center.

On Oct. 31 just after 11 p.m., police responded to the 20 block of Pleasant Street for a ShotSpotter activation.

"Several callers also made reports of shots fired," police reported.

Upon officers’ arrival, police found an 18-year-old man who had sustained a single gunshot wound. The injury was not considered to be life-threatening and the victim was transported to BMC for treatment.

Pittsfield City Council Weighs in on 'Crisis' in Public Schools

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
08:59PM / Monday, December 23, 2024

A half-dozen people addressed the City Council from the floor of Monday's meeting, including Valerie Anderson, right.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — After expressing anger and outrage and making numerous calls for accountability and transparency, the 11 members of the City Council on Monday voted to support the School Committee in seeking an independent investigation into allegations of misconduct by staff members at Pittsfield High School that have come to light in recent weeks.

 

At the close of a month that has seen three PHS administrators put on administrative leave, including one who was arrested on drug trafficking charges, the revelation that the district is facing a civil lawsuit over inappropriate conduct by a former teacher and that a staff member who left earlier in the year is also under investigation at his current workplace, the majority of the council felt compelled to speak up about the situation.

 

"While the City Council does not have jurisdiction over the schools … we have a duty to raise our voices and amplify your concerns and ensure this crisis is met with the urgency it demands," Ward 5 Councilor Patrick Kavey said.

 

About two dozen community members attended the special meeting of the council, which had a single agenda item.

 

Four of the councilors precipitated the meeting with a motion that the council join the School Committee in its search for an investigation and that the council, "be included in the delivery of any disclosures, interim reports or findings submitted to the city."

 

Last week, the School Committee decided to launch that investigation. On Monday, City Council President Peter White said the School Committee has a meeting scheduled for Dec. 30 to authorize its chair to enter negotiations with the Springfield law firm of Bulkley, Richardson and Gelinas to conduct that probe.

 

Ward 7 Councilor Rhonda Serre, the principal author of the motion of support, was one of several members who noted that the investigation process will take time, and she, like Kavey, acknowledged that the council has no power over the public schools beyond its approval of the annual district budget.