HOLYOKE — Police have arrested two men in connection with two recent fatal shootings in the city.

The Hampden District Attorney’s Office said Angel Velez of Springfield and Victor Diaz-Torres of Holyoke were both arrested late last week in separate raids led by members of the State Police, Holyoke Police and the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department.

Velez, 35, is accused of killing Kevin Ventulett, 40, of Holyoke on Wednesday at the intersection of Interstate 391 and High Street in Holyoke. Velez was arraigned last week on a charge of murder in Holyoke District Court, authorities said.

Diaz-Torres, who is 23, is accused of shooting and killing Alex Larkin, 25, of Chicopee on Sept. 3 along Nonotuck Street. Diaz-Torres has also been arraigned on murder charges in Holyoke District Court and has been ordered held without the right to bail pending a hearing Oct. 12.

Both the gunshot victims were transported by ambulance to Baystate Medical Center but died from their injuries, police said.

The arrests came just after Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni, Police Chief David Pratt, and Mayor Joshua Garcia held a press conference outside City Hall with the aim of reassuring the public after five slayings in the city this year.

Steve Pfarrer can be reached at spfarrer@gazettenet.com.

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