Massachusetts State Police fugitive unit stop arrest suspect who shot man last week

The Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section (VFAS) and Special Tactical Operations Team (STOP) yesterday located and captured a suspect accused of shooting a man in the leg, striking his femoral artery, a little over a week ago.

Troopers from MSP VFAS were searching for RAMON BAEZ, 33, of Gardner, at the request of Fitchburg Police after he shot the victim on Aug. 2 in that city. The victim survived the shooting. Yesterday, an MSP VFAS Trooper developed information suggesting that BAEZ was staying at the Super 8 hotel in Gardner. MSP VFAS teams responded to the hotel and established surveillance, along with uniformed Troopers from State Police-Athol, members of a US Marshals Service task force, and members of the Middlesex Sheriff’s and Massachusetts Parole departments.

Troopers knew that BAEZ had made statements saying he would not go back to prison and indicating he would shoot at police who tried to arrest him. BAEZ was armed with a semi-automatic handgun, according to the intelligence. Additionally, Troopers were aware that a handgun had been found inside BAEZ’s car during a previous traffic stop.

The MSP STOP Team responded to assist in the apprehension because of the suspect’s history and the intelligence about his alleged mindset and firearm possession.

MSP VFAS and STOP Troopers were waiting as BAEZ came out of the hotel’s front lobby and took him into custody without incident. During a search of the suspect, Troopers located a loaded 9MM handgun with a 16-round clip in his fanny pack, along with approximately 13 grams of cocaine and six grams of heroin. The firearm will be examined to determine if it was the one used in the Aug. 2 attempted murder.

Troopers transported him to State Police-Athol for booking. He was charged with several warrants, including one for attempted murder, assault and battery with a firearm, and related firearms offenses in connection with the Aug. 2 shooting. He was also charged with several other warrants charging him with, among other offenses, indecent assault and battery, breaking and entering, larceny, possession of a silencer and other firearms crimes, and motor vehicle crimes, including reckless operation and having a young child in his vehicle without a car seat.

In the Aug. 2 shooting, the 30-year-old Fitchburg man suffered a gunshot wound to his femoral artery. The shooting occurred around 3 p.m. between 2 Pritchard St. and the Fitchburg Place Apartments. Responding Fitchburg officers slowed the victim’s extensive bleeding, and may have saved his life by using a tourniquet before EMS arrived on scene. The victim was listed in stable condition two days after the shooting.