LYNN — Authorities are investigating a homicide that stemmed from a robbery at the victim’s Washington Street home, according to the Essex County District Attorney’s office.
A 47-year-old Lynn man was found dead at the corner of Essex and Baldwin streets Thursday at approximately 6 a.m., DA spokeswoman Carrie Kimball said.
Authorities said the man’s death was connected to a robbery that took place Wednesday night at an apartment building at 700 Washington St., where the victim lived.
Police responded to the robbery shortly before 9:30 p.m. and further investigation revealed that suspects had approached the victim outside his home and forced him into their car, Kimball said.
He was found dead the next morning at Essex and Baldwin streets, where there was a heavy police presence Thursday. The area had been cordoned off with crime scene tape.
“The death is considered a homicide,” said Kimball.
No other details have been made available and investigators outside the building declined comment Thursday afternoon. The victim has not been identified.
Residents of the 71-unit apartment building were shocked to hear about the violence that occurred at what several described as an otherwise quiet, safe housing community.
Lisa Novak, 37, said Thursday afternoon she had not heard anything about the incident, but her 17-year-old son, Jaden, had noticed police outside the building when he had taken out the garbage that morning.
The pair were racking their brains trying to figure out what could have drawn the police presence.
“I’m just kind of shocked,” Lisa said. “I’ve been here two years and I’ve never had any trouble. (I’ve heard) the neighborhood is not good, but I’ve always felt pretty safe here.”
Twanya Dawson, 45, agreed, saying other than normal noise from kids yelling and dogs barking, the apartment building is usually quiet.
She had noticed police in the elevator that morning and asked if anything had happened, but Dawson said she wasn’t told much.
“You could say that,” is what an officer told her, Dawson said.
Johanna Cruz said hearing about the violence in her apartment building was shocking and made her nervous.
“It’s only me, my daughter and my granddaughter,” Cruz said. “We need protection. I’m thinking about another lock.”
Construction on the mixed-unit development was completed in the summer of 2018 and residents began moving in shortly after.
“Obviously, it means it’s not as safe as they say it is,” said a 24-year-old woman who lives in the building and declined to give her name. “I’m not sure if the person lived here, but I do know it’s very easy to get into the building.”
Although other tenants interviewed described the building as quiet, the woman said she was not surprised by the violence.
“There’s always fighting and arguments going on,” she said.
The incident is under investigation by Lynn Police, the DA’s office and the Essex State Police Detective Unit.
