GREENFIELD — The Springfield man prosecutors allege fired 15 bullets at a Greenfield Gardens apartment in July before fleeing has been deemed too dangerous to release on bail.
Qadree Hutchins, 28, has pleaded not guilty in Franklin County Superior Court to discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling, possession of a firearm without a license to carry (fourth offense), possession of ammunition without an FID card, vandalism, disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace. On Friday, Hutchins appeared remotely via Zoom for a dangerousness hearing in front of Judge Karen Goodwin, who heard arguments from the attorneys on both sides of this case.
Greenfield Police arrived at Forbes Court in the Greenfield Gardens apartment complex following a report of gunshots at around 1:15 p.m. on July 25. Police were told a man had approached the front door of a Forbes Court residence and began aggressively knocking and yelling into the residence. When he did not get a response, the man allegedly fired at least four shots into the door. One of the shots penetrated the front door, went through the residence and through the back door, exiting into the apartment’s backyard. No one was home at the time.
The man then reportedly walked back to the black Honda Accord he had been driving and fired additional rounds into the residence before fleeing. Security footage from Greenfield Gardens also captured the incident. The apartment’s occupant was at work when the shots were fired and was called to come home by the property manager. She told police that the shooter was likely Hutchins, who is her ex-boyfriend and the father of one of her children. She reportedly told police there is a history of domestic violence, which is why she moved with her kids from Springfield to Greenfield.
Hutchins was arrested the following day in Springfield on an outstanding warrant.
Erin Aiello, the assistant district attorney prosecuting this case for the state, supported her request that Hutchins be held without the right to bail for 180 days by detailing Hutchins’ criminal history. According to Aiello, the defendant had a restraining order against him in 2012 after allegedly pushing his then-girlfriend onto a bed and telling her he would have killed her if her son wasn’t there. Aiello said Hutchins is alleged to have later beat the same woman and threatened to strangle her.
Aiello also said Hutchins has threatened suicide and violence toward others, even making threatening comments in his Facebook page. Aiello mentioned she had submitted three voicemails into evidence to support her request and reminded the judge that these messages consisted of vulgar language, racial slurs and threats.
The assistant district attorney also argued that Hutchins has a history of controlling behavior and stalking. She said someone could have been killed during the July 25 incident at Greenfield Gardens.
“This was in the middle of the day,” Aiello said, adding that there were children around due to it having been summer vacation.
Jonah Goldsmith, the defense attorney representing Hutchins, asked Goodwin to deny the state’s request, saying the prosecution had not met its burden to justify keeping Hutchins locked up without the right to bail for 180 days. He said Hutchins has undergone treatment and care since his July arrest.
“He’s in a much better place than he was when this case was first brought before the court,” Goldsmith said, acknowledging that his client’s history is “concerning.”
Goldsmith suggested that Hutchins be held on bail with the conditions that he submit to random drug and alcohol screenings. After denying Hutchins the right to bail, Goodwin accepted Goldsmith’s request that the 180-day period start retroactively on Dec. 5, when he was arraigned in Franklin County Superior Court. Aiello had no objection to this.
Hutchins is entitled to a bail hearing on June 2, when the state can request more time without bail if it feels that is appropriate. He is due back in court for a pretrial hearing at 2 p.m. on Feb. 10.
Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or
413-772-0261, ext. 262.