The Lynn police chief is urging anyone who has information regarding a drive-by shooting that killed one person and injured six others early Saturday morning to share it with his department.
After responding to reports of shots fired at 189 Essex St. around 2:20 a.m., officers found victims suffering from gunshot wounds and immediately began rendering aid and investigating, Chief Chris Reddy told reporters around 11:15 a.m.
One victim has died from injuries while two others are in critical condition, Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker said. The four other victims suffered injuries not considered life threatening, he added.
“We need to work together,” Reddy said. “I am asking with all of my heart, if you have any information, there are those who know, share it with us. Help us to stop this violence. It needs to stop, and we need your help.”
Investigators, in the early morning hours following the shooting, recovered “a number of items of evidentiary value,” including ballistics, Tucker said. Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to his office are working closely with those from Lynn, he said.
Investigators are working to determine the kind of car used in the drive-by shooting as well as the number of perpetrators, Tucker said. He believes the suspects targeted people who had been holding a gathering at 189 Essex St.
“This is a terrible act of violence that’s torn through the fabric of this neighborhood and this city. So many people have been impacted by this,” the district attorney said. “I also want to make sure people know we do not believe this was a random act.”
More updates are expected to be coming this afternoon on conditions of the victims and potentially names of those shot and injured, Tucker said.
Reddy expressed concern that the suspects may be retaliatory and inflict additional acts of gun violence. His department is also working with federal partners to bring in additional resources, he said.
The police chief highlighted how gun violence is a problem felt by communities all across the state and country.
The incident in Lynn comes amid a recent stretch of shootings involving multiple victims across Greater Boston.
Eight people suffered non-life threatening injuries after being shot in Dorchester on the morning of Aug. 26, just as people were celebrating the J’ouvert parade, hours before the Caribbean Carnival later in the day. The shooting was not related to the parade, according to police, who said they recovered multiple weapons.
The next day, Worcester police responded to a chaotic scene as gunfire rang out during the city’s Caribbean Festival, sending two victims, 15 and 23, to the hospital.
“We don’t take it lightly,” Reddy said of gun violence. “We are committed to doing whatever’s necessary to hold these individuals accountable because what these families are experiencing right now should not happen to anyone.”