Woman finds man dead inside car near funeral home in Springfield

SPRINGFIELD — Police are investigating a suspicious death in Springfield on Tuesday.

As reported on News Center 7 at 5 p.m. around 1:30 p.m., Springfield and police and medics were dispatched to the 800 block of Mason Street on a report of a shooting.

A woman who works at a nearby funeral home was walking down the sidewalk and saw a man slumped over in a white SUV, according to a Springfield police sergeant.

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In a 911 call, the dispatcher asked if the man was breathing.

“I don’t think so, I just happened to glance in the car and it doesn’t look like he’s breathing. He’s slumped over his center console,” the woman said.

News Center 7 crews went on the scene and saw police surrounding the SUV and searching inside.

Crews also saw the coroner’s office and an evidence collection unit arrive on the scene.

Athena Wilder has lived in the neighborhood since 2015.

“It just kind of ups the fear level a little bit living around here,” she said. “Just because there has been an uptick in other things that have going on around here. Having four young kids it makes it a little bit more scary.”

Springfield police told News Center 7 that the victim’s death was suspicious but did not provide further details.

The identity of the man who died was not immediately available.

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We will continue to update this story.

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