ITEM PHOTO BY SPENSER HASAK
Two men were shot in front of the LynnArts building at 25 Exchange St. around 3 p.m. on Sunday.
BY GAYLA CAWLEY
LYNN — One man has died, another is still hospitalized, and the shooter is still at large after an Easter Day shooting in Central Square.
Police are investigating after two men in their 40s were shot in front of the LynnArts building at 25 Exchange St. Sunday around 3 p.m., Lynn Police said.
A 46-year-old man died after he was taken to Union Hospital, according to the Essex County District Attorney’s office.
The other man was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital and is in stable condition. police said.
Police are seeking a male shooter who left the scene. No arrests have been made.
Nelson Rodriguez, 35, of Lynn, said he was in his car at a stop sign near LynnArts, when he saw the two victims arguing with the man who shot them. He said the man took out a gun, and started shooting about six times, hit one of the victims three times and the other once. He said the shooter then walked away.
Jonathan Simon, 24, said he moved to Lynn two to three weeks ago and lives down the street from where the shooting occurred. He came over after he heard something was happening, and had been on his way to the beach.
“I’m not from Lynn,” Simon said. “This is definitely not something I’m used to. Broad daylight, Easter.”
A 33-year-old man, who didn’t want to give his name, said he was nearby in his apartment when he heard the gunshots and thought they were fireworks at first.
“It’s insanity,” said 68-year-old Lynn resident Bob Merrick. “It’s getting to be one a week in Lynn. I wish there was cameras around here.”
“We are heartbroken and distressed by this afternoon’s events on Exchange Street,” said Drew Russo, executive director of Lynn Museum/LynnArts in a Facebook post. “Those of us who work at the Lynn Museum/LynnArts and in the Downtown Lynn Cultural District know this is not reflective of all we are doing to make the #DTL a center for arts and culture.”
“We hold those affected in our prayers and ask our friends in the community to stand with us against this heinous violence and for a positive vision of Lynn that puts community involvement in arts, culture, and activism at the center.”
The area was blocked off with crime scene tape and Lynn Police called the DA’s CPAC unit, now known as the Essex State Police Detective Unit, to assist with the investigation. Police are attempting to gain more information from witnesses and cameras from businesses.
