Raymond M. Boissonault keeps his eye on John Kavanaugh, the lawyer appointed to represent him at his bail hearing last month, during his arraignment on a variety of charges stemming from a shooting incident in downtown Westfield. (File photo by Carl E. Hartdegen)
WESTFIELD – A city detective has cleared an almost three-year-old burglary case in which five hand guns were stolen.
Det. Sgt. Stephen K. Dickinson reports that information discovered during the investigation of a downtown shooting incident March 29 led him to the suspect, Raymond Boissonault, 22, of Lowell St., West Springfield.
The victim of the shooting initially claimed that he had been shot by an unknown armed robber but the investigating officers found problems with his account of the incident.
Police Capt. Michael McCabe said at the time that “parts of the story did not ring true” and detectives, led by Dickinson, continued the investigation.
When detectives interviewed the victim again, he eventually conceded that the suspect was known to him and acknowledged that robbery had not been his assailant’s motive.
Dickinson found that the victim actually knew his assailant well and had dealings with him for some time.
He said that, once Boissonault was identified as the shooting suspect, he interviewed him repeatedly and came to know him well enough so that, when he reviewed the security video of the August 26, 2010 burglary at BG Sporting on Russell Road, he recognized that suspect as Boissonault.
He said that he discussed Boissonault with the shooting victim who said that the man is “infatuated” with guns and had bragged to him that he had “got a gun store.”
The shooting victim said that he initially thought that Boissonault was referring to a robbery in West Springfield but when he talked with him he learned that he had referenced the theft in Westfield.
Dickinson said that the victim knew, because Boissonault had told him, the number and type of firearms which were stolen in that burglary and pointed out that specifics about the weapons stolen had not been released to the news media.
He said that when he showed the victim the security video of the burglary the victim said he recognized that suspect as Boissonault because he and Boissonault had “the same stupid look” on his face and said that he recognized that the suspect wore his pants the same way Boissonault does.
Three of the five revolvers stolen in the burglary have since been recovered and one was found in the possession of Boissonault.
State Police Lt. Daniel G. Richard reports that on Oct. 21, 2010, about 9:30 p.m., state troopers stopped a vehicle operated by Boissonault for motor vehicle infractions in Springfield and when he was taken into custody troopers found him to be in possession of a fully loaded black Smith and Wesson .38 caliber revolver along with other contraband.
He was arrested for a total of 17 charges including narcotics, firearms, larceny and motor vehicle offenses.
Dickinson said that when those charges were adjudicated, in April, 2011, Boissonault was sentenced to a two and a half year term in the house of correction with credit for 175 days in custody awaiting trial. He was released Dec. 31, 2012.
Dickinson said that since his release he has, allegedly, been involved in a shooting and is suspected of another crime which is still under investigation.
Dickinson also said that two others of the five pistols stolen from BG Sporting have been recovered during the investigation of crimes in Springfield and Stoughton but have not been directly linked to Boissonault.
Boissonault is currently in custody pending trial for charges stemming from the shooting incident and will be summoned to court to answer the new charges brought by Dickinson – five charges of larceny of a firearm, five charges of possession of a firearm without a FID card and a single charge of breaking and entering a building in the nighttime with intent to commit a felony.
