Judge orders suspect in Walmart shooting held without bail

Nov. 23, 2021
NORTHAMPTON – Hampshire Superior Court Judge Richard Carey on Nov. 23 ordered the Chicopee man charged in the shooting of two teenagers at the Hadley Walmart held until trial because he represents a danger to the community.
Wilmer Alvarez-Vargas, 26, was arraigned earlier on seven charges in connection with the Aug. 22 shooting in the Walmart bathroom that left two teenagers with life-threatening injuries. Alvarez-Vargas pleaded not guilty Nov. 16 to two counts of armed assault with intent to murder; two counts of assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury; unlawful possession of a firearm; unlawful possession of a loaded firearm; unlawful possession of ammunition. The case was continued to today for a hearing to determine whether he should be held without bail.
In court today, Northwestern Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Suhl argued that the community would be at risk if Alvarez-Vargas was released, noting that he had shot one of the teenagers, who were strangers to Alvarez-Vargas, in the face and leg and the other in the chest, back and arm, resulting in injuries that landed them in the hospital for weeks. She also argued that the shooting was committed in a public store on a Sunday night, prompting shoppers to run in fear after hearing the gunshots.
Defense attorney Nikolas Andreopoulos, representing Alvarez-Vargas, urged Judge Carey to release him on bail, arguing that his client was eager to defend himself in court and was not a flight risk.
Alvarez-Vargas, who has been in custody since the Aug. 22 incident, was ordered held after on a dangerousness hearing following his arrest and arraignment in the Eastern Hampshire District Court. Judge Carey ordered that he continue to be held pending the outcome of the case.
The two victims in the case, Juan Hernandez, 18, of Schenectady, NY, and Jeruan Matos Colon, 19, of Springfield, have been indicted by a Hampshire grand jury for charges stemming from the same incident.
Hernandez has pleaded not guilty to charges of unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of a loaded firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition. His bail was set by the court at $2,500. Matos Colon has pleaded not guilty to charges of possession of a Class A substance (heroin) with intent to distribute and possession of a Class B substance (cocaine) with intent to distribute. The court set bail for him at $1,000.