Man shot in confrontation outside Holyoke store

A 29-year-old Springfield man was shot in the hip during a confrontation outside a Holyoke convenience store Saturday afternoon, Holyoke police said.

The victim walked into the Holyoke Medical Center emergency room around 2:30 p.m. with a very serious gunshot wound below his belt and was transferred to Baystate Medical Center, Lieutenant Jim Albert said.

The shooting occurred outside the Circle K convenience store at 337 Appleton Street in Holyoke, Albert said. Witnesses told police that two men were allegedly fighting when one shot the other with a handgun, Albert said. A witness transported the victim to the hospital, he said.

The suspect has been identified as a Hispanic male in his 20s or 30s and wearing dark clothing, Albert said. Police towed a black Dodge SUV, which was believed to have been left at the scene by the suspect, he said.

Holyoke police suspect the shooting may have been drug-related, Albert said.

The incident is currently under investigation by the Holyoke Criminal Investigation Bureau with help from the Massachusetts State Police Crime Scene Unit and Ballistics Unit.