A man armed with an assault-style rifle unleashed a barrage of gunfire at passing vehicles on a busy road outside Boston on Monday, wounding two individuals before being shot by law enforcement and a civilian, authorities reported.
Attack Details
The suspect, identified as 46-year-old Tyler Brown of Boston, fired more than 60 rounds during the afternoon attack on Memorial Drive in Cambridge, a thoroughfare along the Charles River near Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Bullets struck at least a dozen cars, including a state police cruiser, causing panicked motorists to abandon their vehicles or seek cover underneath them.
Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan stated that a state trooper and a former Marine simultaneously engaged the gunman. "While people were jumping from their cars, scattering in various directions … both that trooper and that civilian, rather than going in one direction, went toward the suspect with their weapons to try to end that situation," she said during a Monday night press conference.
Suspect and Charges
Brown was shot multiple times in the extremities and is expected to face charges including two counts of armed assault with intent to murder and additional gun offenses. "What happened today cannot stand," the district attorney declared. Ryan noted that investigators found no connection between Brown and the victims, renewing her call for stricter penalties for reckless firearm use.
As of Tuesday, Brown remained medically unfit for arraignment at Cambridge District Court. The Committee for Public Counsel Services has been appointed to represent him; a message seeking comment was left with the agency. Attempts to reach Brown or his relatives were unsuccessful.
The shooting occurred on a road frequently used by pedestrians, joggers, and cyclists, heightening the chaos. Authorities continue to investigate the incident.
