Trial begins for man linked to deadly Holyoke bus shooting

The trial for one of the suspects involved in a deadly shooting in Holyoke three years ago began this morning. A panel of jurors hearing opening statements. 22 News was inside the courtroom with the arguments from each side. Simple, very simple self-defense case, but complicated because it was a tragedy. Ezekiel Garcia should have just turned three years old in the first week of November. Tragically, he never lived to even see one birthday. The trial of Kermit Alvarez is underway. He is one of multiple men charged in connection with a 2023 deadly Holyoke shooting that killed a baby, Ezekiel Garcia. Now, nearly two months ago, another man charged, John Luis Sanchez, was sentenced to 18 to 20 years in prison. In Hampden County Superior Court, opening statements were given by both the prosecution and the defense. The defense saying Alvarez was acting in self-defense when the shooting happened and it's a case of transferred intent self-defense. Mr. Sanchez with his gun attack, Mr. Ramos with his physical attack and then his gun attack. The prosecution not denying the fact that Alvarez was jumped by both Sanchez and Alejandro Ramos, a third man charged in the shooting, but it was Alvarez who fired that first shot and also the deadly shot. It was Mr. Alvarez who sent a stray bullet into the bus. The jury began hearing from witnesses including multiple Holyoke police officers who responded to the scene. Later this week there will also be a jury view where the jury will be bused to Sergeant Street near Maple Street to see where the shooting took place. The trial is expected to take multiple days.