Officials ID third suspect in Holyoke shooting

Prosecutors on Wednesday identified a third suspect in last week’s Holyoke shooting that wounded a woman who was eight months pregnant and killed her baby.

On Oct. 4, Kermith D. Alvarez, 28, allegedly got into a physical struggle with two other men outside a convenience store that escalated into a gunfight, according to officials.

Alvarez “is actively avoiding law enforcement, the firearm used in this incident has not been recovered, and he should be considered armed and dangerous,” Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni’s office said Wednesday.

The three men involved in the shooting sustained minor injuries, officials said. Two of the men were arrested and have pleaded not guilty to a murder charge in Holyoke District Court, where they were ordered held without bail.

They are Johnluis Sanchez, 30, and Alejandro Ramos, 22, both of Holyoke. Sanchez was free on $10,000 cash bail on pending gun and heroin possession charges at the time of last week’s shooting, according to court records.

Alvarez is the final suspect sought in connection with the shooting, prosecutors said.

The pregnant woman, whom authorities have not named, was hit by a stray bullet while riding a Pioneer Valley Transit Authority bus. The child she was carrying was also wounded, authorities said.

The woman was rushed to a hospital, where the infant was delivered but died despite lifesaving efforts by medical staff.

A peace march was held in the Western Massachusetts city Sunday in response to the shooting, which has infuriated residents and elected officials.