September
3, 2018
LAWRENCE
This
morning, Monday, September 3rd, at approximately 5:48 AM, Lawrence Police
responded to the area of 940 Essex Street for a report of shots fired with a
man down. Officer Carlos Vieira was to the first to arrive on scene and found a
35 year old Lawrence man with an apparent gun shot wound to his back. The male was treated on scene by member of
the Lawrence Fire Department, as well as, Paramedics and EMTs from Lawrence
General Hospital, and transported to that facility by ambulance. He was subsequently transported to Boston
Hospital with what are believed to be non-life threatening injuries.
As Police Personnel were responding to the
area, dispatch informed them that a gray suv was seen fleeing the area. As this information was being provided to the
responding units, Officer Michael Coluantoni informed dispatch that he had located
a gray sports utility vehicle, which was unoccupied, that had just struck a pole
in the area of 700 Esssex St, coming to rest into a fence. All responding units searched the area the
suspects. Moments later, Officers
encountered two males in the area of the Merrimack Courts housing projects on
Essex Street, who began to flee upon seeing the Officers. One male was apprehended by Officer Alexander Ovalles following a short foot chase. The second male fled on foot through
backyards as several officers gave chase. He was apprehended a few blocks away
hiding in a Lowell St backyard with the assistance of an Essex County Sheriff’s
K-9 Unit.
Officers
located a firearm in the suspect’s vehicle.
Arrested
were: Jeffrey Graciani age 35 of Lawrence was charged Assault with intent to
murder, Assault and Battery Dangerous Weapon, and several firearms related
charges. And Twaldo Baez age 35 of
Lawrence who had active warrants for his arrest at the time of the incident.
Both
the victim and of the individuals in custody were attending the same house
party in the area. This is not believed to be a random act of violence, and
there is no threat to public as a result of this incident. This investigation is being conducted by the
Lawrence Police Department, and members of the Essex State Police Unit assigned to Essex County District Attorney Jonathan
Blodgett’s Office.
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