NEW: Two Shot During Home Invasion on Flagg Street in Worcester
Thursday, July 23, 2015
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According to the Worcester Police Department, around 1 AM, police responded to an apartment on Flagg Street for a report of a home invasion. Upon arrival, officers met with a 22-year-old male victim who suffered a gunshot would to his lower extremity. He was conscious and alert.
A 25-year-old male victim was found in the kitchen and had been shot several times, but was conscious and alert. Both victims are brothers and were transported to a local hospital. They are in stable condition.
A dog was found shot dead in the living room.
A third victim and brother of the two shot men told WPD that he witnessed two male suspects tampering with a first floor apartment window. The suspects were described as one black male and one black or Hispanic male. Suspect #1 is a black male about 6’0" tall, thin build wearing all black clothing. Suspect #2 is either a black or Hispanic male, approximately 5’8 to 5’10", medium build wearing all black.
The suspects approached the victim and pointed guns in his direction, forced him into the building, up the stairs and into the apartment. Suspect #1 threw the victim to the floor. The 22-year-old victim was shot when he jumped from the couch.
Meanwhile suspect #2 went to the kitchen area and encountered the 25-year-old victim. A fight erupted in the kitchen area and several shots were fired at the 25-year-old victim.
After the shooting the two suspects fled the apartment and ran towards a waiting motor vehicle. There is limited vehicle information at this time.
Police sealed off the apartment building. The WPD Crime Scene Unit arrived and processed evidence. WPD investigators arrived at the scene and spoke with witnesses and conducted interviews.
Following the incident, in a released statement, Worcester Police Chief Gary J. Gemme said, "This most recent shooting highlights the ongoing challenge that the department is facing in addressing gun violence in our community. The department continues to focus our resources on individuals and areas were this senseless violence is taking place. We are on pace to have another year of record setting gun violence in the city and while in comparison to other cities, we are a safe community, 19 shooting incidents and 27 victims in the first seven month of this year is intolerable.
The solution to gun violence is not more arrests, consider that this year the department has already made 3,723 arrests of that 256 were for known gang members and 52 were gun related. The solution to gun violence requires greater community involvement at the neighborhood level and judges who hold those involved in illegal firearm possession and gun violence accountable.
The courts need to get stricter when dealing with individuals arrested for possession of a firearm or a gun related crime. The courts should also find anyone arrested for a firearm related offense as "dangerous" when they hold a dangerousness hearing. There is no one more dangerous than a known gang member or a juvenile in possession of an illegal firearm who commits a violent act. Until those involved in gun violence understand that there are consequences for gun related crimes we are not going to solve this problem.
While the city recently presented a comprehensive plan to address violence, those most affected by gun violence need to cooperate with the police. There is a culture of violence that includes retaliation and a refusal to be labeled a "snitch." Until this cultural attitude changes those who commit a violent crime will never be held accountable.
There have also been recent incidents when our police officers have been harassed and threatened when responding to gun related incidents. These misguided behaviors from certain people in the community further embolden those with a propensity for violence. If we are going to be a safe community than those with information about the violent crime that is taking place in their neighborhood need to cooperate with the police."
This investigation is ongoing, if anyone has information about this incident they can send an anonymous text to 274637 TIPWPD + your message or send an anonymous web based message at worcesterma.gov/police. Calls can also be made to the Worcester Police Detective Bureau at (508) 799-8651.
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