By Cody McDevitt –

On Thursday, Joel Polanco, 32, of Fitchburg was charged in the U.S. District Court with being a felon in possession of a 10 mm Glock pistol. Polanco is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a March 2011 conviction in Worcester federal court of being a felon in possession of ammunition and distribution of cocaine base.

On Oct. 24, 2020, Polanco was arrested after police responded to the area of Snow and Cherry Streets in Fitchburg following a report of a person suffering a gunshot wound to the leg.

A witness reported seeing someone fitting Polanco’s description shoot the victim. In addition, surveillance videos showed a person fitting Polanco’s description carrying what appeared to be a black fanny-pack and holding an item in his hand that appeared to be a gun.

The black fanny-pack along with a 10 mm Glock pistol that Polanco shot the victim with, was later recovered.

Polanco is currently in state custody and will make an initial appearance in federal court at a later date.