Grandmother killed, 3 children injured after neighbor opens fire in Springfield home

SPRINGFIELD – Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni said 34-year-old Victor Nieves committed suicide Monday afternoon after opening fire on an “unsuspecting family” in a Springfield home. In the process, a woman was killed and her three grandchildren were shot.

It happened just before 3 p.m. at a multi-family home on Berkshire Ave.

In addition to Nieves, police found 52-year-old Kim Fairbanks dead in the house, as well as a dog.

Officers later found three children with gunshot wounds in a bedroom. The children are 5, 10 and 12 years old.

The 10-year-old girl is in critical condition after being airlifted to Boston Children’s Hospital. The 12-year-old girl is in stable condition at Baystate Medical Center, while the 5-year-old was not injured.

All three children are siblings. Fairbanks was their grandmother.

Gulluni said Nieves lived in an upstairs apartment of the multi-family home. Nieves reportedly forced his way through the front door and started shooting.

“I remain deeply saddened by this tragic attack and deeply sorry for these children and their families,” Gulluni said. “This is unequivocally one of the most heinous and cowardly acts I have had to witness as a prosecutor. My heart goes out to the parents of these children and the family and loved ones of Ms. Fairbanks. As investigators, we will do everything we can to support this family as we move forward and complete the criminal investigation.”