Cambridge Shooting: Gunman Opens Fire on Vehicles, Two Critical

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A gunman who opened fire along Memorial Drive in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on Monday afternoon has been identified as 46-year-old Boston resident Tyler Brown, authorities said.

According to Mass Live, Brown allegedly fired an assault-style rifle “erratically” at passing vehicles, leaving two people in critical condition before he was shot and subdued by a Massachusetts State Police trooper and an armed civilian identified as a former Marine.

Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan said Brown is currently under police custody while receiving treatment in an intensive care unit at a local hospital. He is facing multiple charges, including two counts of armed assault with intent to murder and illegal firearm possession.

Investigators believe the shooting was a random act of violence.

The incident began shortly after 1 p.m. local time after Boston police alerted Cambridge authorities that Brown, who had reportedly been acting erratically, was believed to be carrying a rifle in the area.

By the time officers arrived on Memorial Drive, gunfire had already erupted.

“He was actively firing in an erratic fashion at various vehicles along the road,” Ryan said during a press conference.

Authorities said Brown fired between 50 and 60 rounds during the attack, damaging at least a dozen vehicles. One bullet also struck a state police cruiser.

The two victims, including a Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) bus driver, were both inside separate vehicles when they were shot. Both remain hospitalized with life-threatening injuries.

Ryan said that the shooting ended within minutes after a state trooper and a legally armed former Marine confronted Brown and returned fire. Brown was struck several times in the extremities before being taken into custody.

Witnesses described scenes of panic as drivers abandoned vehicles and pedestrians fled for safety.

Joseph Minino Rodriguez, a resident who witnessed the shooting from his apartment overlooking Memorial Drive, told reporters he saw Brown casually walking down the street while firing at random.

“I start seeing cars doing U-turns, cars speeding,” Rodriguez said. “To be honest, I couldn’t believe it. It’s a really peaceful city around here.”

Another witness, Dennis Rodriguez, told Boston 25 News that the scene resembled “Grand Theft Auto” after gunfire erupted between Brown and responding officers.

Hindustan Times revealed that Brown also has a lengthy criminal history. Court records show he was previously charged in 2020 after allegedly opening fire on Boston police officers during another confrontation.

Brown later pleaded guilty to several charges, including armed assault with intent to murder and attempted assault and battery with a firearm. In 2021, he was sentenced to five to six years in prison followed by probation and mandatory mental health treatment.

Former Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins had criticized the sentence at the time as too lenient, saying prosecutors had sought a longer prison term.

Reports cited by Hindustan Times also stated that police had attempted a wellbeing check at Brown’s home earlier Monday after his parole officer raised concerns over alleged suicidal statements. Authorities reportedly learned during a FaceTime call that Brown was holding what appeared to be an assault-style rifle and threatening to use it.

Following the shooting, investigators discovered several people hiding underneath vehicles near the scene as authorities secured the area along the Charles River.

Read: White House Press Dinner Shooting Suspect Pleads Not Guilty

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News