For Immediate Release: 6/11/2023 1:01 pm
On June 11th 2023 at about 3:40 AM, Worcester Police officers were dispatched to the area of Birch St for a ShotSpotter activation and report of gunshots. Upon arrival, officers located four vehicles that appeared to have been damaged by gunfire. In addition, a residence was damaged. No one appeared to be injured. Officers began the follow-up investigation.
As a result of the investigation, officers sent out a department email with information about a suspect vehicle in connection with the shots fired. On June 11th at about 8:50 AM, an officer was on the way to Birch to take an additional damaged property report from a victim when he observed the suspect vehicle parked on the corner of Maywood and Birch St.
The officer observed two individuals get into the vehicle and begin to drive. After calling for backup, he followed the vehicle and activated his blue lights on Shirley St. Officers approached the vehicle and detained the occupants, identified as forty-eight-year-old Nakia Lane of Ward St and thirty-four-year-old Joshua Arce of Elliott St. Officers located a loaded handgun in the vehicle, and neither occupant has a license to carry firearms.
Mr. Lane is charged with Carrying a Firearm without a License, Carrying a Loaded Firearm without a License, Possession of Ammunition without an FID Card, Armed Career Criminal, and Operating a Motor Vehicle with a Suspended License. Mr. Arce is charged with Carrying a Firearm without a License. They will be arraigned in court.
The Worcester Police Department is still investigating the incident on Birch St. If you have information about this incident, please send an anonymous text to 274637 TIPWPD + your message or send an anonymous web based message at worcesterma.gov/police. Calls can also be made to the Worcester Police Detective Bureau at (508) 799-8651.
