Eight folks had been injured, two critically, after an eruption of gunfire at a crowded spontaneous gathering in Methuen, in accordance native police and the Essex County District Lawyer’s Workplace.
The shootings occurred at a big “car club meet up” of lots of younger folks organized through social media, Essex DA Paul Tucker stated. The folks concerned vary in age from late teenagers to 22, he stated.
“Here we see again gun violence that is striking at the heart of the community and we are working very hard — state police detectives have been on the scene all night with Methuen police and Methuen detectives — responding to a chaotic scene,” Tucker stated throughout a Sunday morning press convention.
Of the 7 victims shot, Tucker stated two had been in important situation and the remaining 5 had been listed as steady. One sufferer needed to be airlifted to a hospital. An eighth individual suffered a head damage whereas fleeing the violence. The DA didn’t disclose the identify of the hospitals treating the victims nor had been their names launched to the general public.
“This is still a very fluid investigation,” he stated.
Contemplating the variety of gunshots fired, Tucker stated, “it’s pretty amazing that more people were not hurt.”
“There were hundreds of people here” Tucker stated.
The gunfire broke out at roughly 1:55 a.m. within the space of 100 Lindberg Avenue, Methuen Police Chief Scott McNamara stated. Police responded to a “report of a shooting. We had received multiple 911 calls in that regard.”
Police from Lawrence, Dracut, North Andover and troopers with the Massachusetts State Police offered mutual assist in the course of the early morning response, officers stated.
“We are certainly deeply saddened by the tragic events of last night and our hearts go out to the victims and their families. These acts of senseless violence do not represent the values of our community,” McNamara stated.
Tucker stated the violence got here throughout a “social media, Snapchat event where people meet up” in unused parking heaps in out of the best way components of communities. He stated occasions like these are popping up all through the county and the Merrimack Valley.
McNamara stated that occasions like these spontaneous and unsanctioned automotive membership gatherings don’t unusually result in violence, however even when they don’t it’s the coverage of his division to “take law enforcement action wherever appropriate to discourage this activity from occurring in the first place.”
McNamara stated investigating officers have gathered proof and have some “very strong leads” however didn’t have any details about a specific suspect to launch presently, or know precisely what led to the capturing. The police haven’t recovered any firearms used within the capturing, the chief stated, however have gathered casings from “many” fired rounds.
Tucker stated that his workplace and the police division are each hoping the general public will step up and fill in some gaps on what occurred early Sunday morning, particularly contemplating the scale of the gathering.
“There were hundreds of people involved here and these were terrible crimes, not only for the individuals who suffered these gunshot wounds but their family and the community as well. We are absolutely asking for help,” he stated.
Anybody with details about the capturing is requested to name the DA’s workplace or the Methuen PD. An nameless tip may be shared with Methuen detectives by calling 978-983-8794. The Essex DA’s workplace may be reached at 978-744-6610.
