Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 3/5/2019
WEST SPRINGFIELD – Ohio Avenue in West Springfield is often recognized as a friendly and secure neighborhood, on the morning of Feb. 24, however, this was not the case. Roughly 20 law enforcement vehicles lined the street along with three fire trucks patrolling the neighborhood after an attempted robbery, assault and several attempted car jackings.
“This is such an extremely quiet neighborhood,” said Anthony Cignoli, a resident of Ohio Avenue. “Usually, it's just bears, coyotes, fox and the occasional fisher-cat that we have to watch out for.”
Archie Moe told Reminder Publishing he was running errands that morning and arrived back at his house on Ohio Avenue around 9:30 a.m. As he pulled in, he noticed a man dressed in all black standing at his door. Moe approached the man, questioning what he was doing. The man, who was wearing a ski mask, pulled out a gun, pointing it at Moe. Moe questioned him, “What are you going to do? Shoot me?”
The suspect, who was later identified as John LaRace, then lunged at Moe, hitting him over the head with his gun. Moe was able to defend himself and LaRace took off toward Moe’s truck in an attempt to steal it. Moe had taken the keys out of the truck when he had first arrived home. LaRace demanded Moe give him the keys, to which Moe responded by throwing the keys over a fence into his neighbors yard.
Moe and LaRace began to fight and wrestle in Moe’s yard. LaRace continuously hit Moe over the head with the barrel of his gun. Amidst the wrestling, the gun was fired.
“The bullet whizzed by my head and went up into the air,” Moe commented.
After the gun was fired, it fell to the ground and broke against the concrete. Once LaRace realized he no longer had a gun to use, he attempted to highjack a car in the street.
The car belonged to David and Diana Coyne, also residents of Ohio Avenue. The couple was on their way to church when they saw LaRace walking down the street.
“We noticed the figure coming towards us, he was dressed in all black, baggy clothing,” said David. “Our children were at home alone so we decided to double back and make sure the back door was locked.”
As they circled back to their house, LaRace approached the car. Diana rolled down her window to ask if he needed help. LaRace then pulled out the gun on her, grabbing on the handle of their car. The couple drove away fast, dragging LaRace along with them. Finally down the street LaRace let go and the couple escaped.
“I jumped out of the car and immediately started running home, I was afraid he was going back to my house where my kids were. My neighbor came out of her house screaming for help because he had gone into their house and was fighting her husband,” Coyne said.
LaRace moved onto his next home, which was owned by Ken Madamba. Madamba defended himself by hitting LaRace in the head with a coffee mug. Law enforcement officials found LaRace outside of Madamba’s home in a confused state after the blow to his head by the mug.
“The efforts of our neighbors, Archie Moe first, then Dave and Diana Coyne and Ken Madamba fought bravely with this assailant. Their courage definitely helped to thwart what could have been a terrible tragedy on our street,” said Cignoli. “They fought this fellow who had a gun and a knife, with just their fists, brains and a coffee cup!”
Police arrested LaRace on more than 15 charges, including carjacking while armed with a firearm, assault and battery, armed home invasion, and carrying a firearm without a license. LaRace is being held on a $100,000 bail.
Moe shared with Reminder Publishing that despite the attempted break in he still feels completely safe in his home.
“This is still one the safest neighborhoods in West Springfield, I’m not going to let it worry me whatsoever.” Moe commented.