Two Lynn shootings begin 2014

LYNN – Police are investigating two shootings early New Year’s Day that sent two men to the hospital but had resulted in no identified suspects or arrests as of Wednesday evening.Police said each individual was in stable condition Wednesday night, and officers are investigating whether the two incidents were related.The first reported incident occurred at 2:13 a.m. Wednesday when police responded to 39 Congress St., in between Western Avenue and Boston Street, on the report of a gunshot, according to the police log.Neighbors said there was a large party at the six-unit building to which police responded, and that an individual staggered out of the building and across the street, before police and ambulance personnel responded to the scene.A spokesperson from Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett’s office identified the victim as a 27-year-old city man.Lynn Police Lt. Lucas Dean said Wednesday evening that the man suffered multiple gunshot wounds originally considered to be life-threatening and was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital. The victim’s condition was upgraded to stable later that morning, Dean said.Blood remained splattered on the sidewalk and on a bush Wednesday afternoon across the street from the address to which police responded.The second incident occurred at 68 Linwood St. at 3:20 a.m., according to police.Dean said a 24-year-old male victim suffered a single gunshot wound, but he believed officers recovered multiple shell casings at the scene. Dean said the victim was taken to Salem Hospital where he was in stable condition.Neighbor Matt Mahoney said he and his housemates were awakened Wednesday morning when they heard multiple gunshots, first two and then at least four others, he said. “I’ve never ever heard anything like that, it was crazy,” Mahoney said. He said he considered the neighborhood near the Sewell-Anderson Elementary School very safe and that several police officers lived nearby.Dean said that police had no suspect descriptions to release in either case. No arrests had been made.