Entrance to Swasey Field.
As police work to get a handle on the latest gunfire incident in Haverhill’s Mount Washington neighborhood, an Essex County grand jury has indicted a 16-year-old “youthful offender” in connection with the shootings of two men last month at Swasey Field.
Martin Lewis, 16, was indicted on two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon that led to two men receiving non-life threatening gunshot wounds Saturday, May 14, near Swasey Field on Blaisdell Street. Lewis, who remains held without bail, now faces the possibility of an adult state prison sentence, according to Carrie Kimball-Monahan, spokesperson for Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett.
Lewis will still be tried in Lawrence Juvenile Court.
Release of the indictment follows reports of gunfire late Thursday afternoon in what police suspect may be gang-related retaliation linked to last month’s Swasey Field shooting. No injuries were reported following the 5:25 p.m. reports of shots fired near 72 Temple St.
“Witnesses on the street heard shots and then saw someone running away from the scene with a handgun,” said Captain Robert A. Pistone, police spokesman, in response to a WHAV inquiry.
Lewis was arrested at Temple and Reed Streets just hours after Haverhill Police Chief Alan R. DeNaro said during a press conference that the shootings had been caught on surveillance video.
Police are asking the public for any information they may have about the incident. Police accept anonymous tips by telephone at (978) 374-2411 or online at http://www.cityofhaverhill.org/departments/community_connect.php.
Andy Vargas: Last week you were ranting on your personal Facebook page regarding your opinions on gun control relating to the shooting in Orlando. Now the issue of guns is in the news every day in the city that you represent as an public official and you’ve said nothing about it. Why so quiet Andy? Is it because you already know that the social and economic issues relating to guns used by gang members has a direct link to the out of control progressive liberalism in this state?
Last week you called for people to ‘take action’ on the issue of guns and researching the causes of gun violence. This is your chance….why aren’t you taking it??
Irony is when our own CONgress Member and her staff try scrubbing posts on their official FB page. Eventually it became too obvious that Niki Tsongas and her staff were against free speech as well as 2A issues. I just pointed out the hypocrisy of every single Massachusetts CONgress Member as they are all directly or indirectly invested in the firearms industry:
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1761792110774400&id=100008308839772&hc_location=ufi