City of Cambridge, MA
01/02/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/02/2026 13:15
Arrest Made in Christmas Day Howard St. Shooting
Cambridge - The Cambridge Police Department has placed Nelson Portillo, 34, of Cambridge under arrest on charges related to an early morning shooting on Christmas day that left himself and another person injured.
At approximately 3:20am on December 25th Cambridge Police were dispatched by Cambridge Emergency Communications to a Howard St. residence following a 9-1-1 call that reported a fight. Upon arrival, officers located Portillo and another individual suffering from gunshot wounds. Officers provided life-saving treatment to these individuals until Cambridge Fire and EMS arrived, they were both subsequently transported to local hospitals. They have since been treated and released.
Since this incident Cambridge Police Detectives, in conjunction with the Massachusetts State Police and the Middlesex District Attorney's Office, have been actively investigating the circumstances surrounding this incident. It is alleged that Portillo discharged a firearm inside of a residence during a gathering, striking himself and another person.
Portillo is facing multiple charges including with Assault & Battery with Dangerous Weapon, Discharge of a Firearm within 500 Feet of a Building and Carrying a Loaded Firearm without a License. He has been arraigned in Cambridge District Court and will be held pending a dangerousness hearing. The case will now be prosecuted by the Middlesex District Attorney's Office.
City of Cambridge, MA published this content on January 02, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on January 02, 2026 at 19:15 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]