LYNN — Patrons enjoying a late lunch at the popular Brothers Deli on Market Street got a bit of fright, but fortunately escaped injury, when shots were fired into the restaurant.
According to two Brothers employees working at the time, shots were fired in the deli parking lot at approximately 3:15 p.m.; a bullet went through one of the front windows of the restaurant. No one was hit and there were no injuries reported.
“I heard a couple shots and the next thing I knew the window was broken,” said employee Ronald Freitas, who had started his shift a few minutes before the shooting took place. “I was so nervous and scared.”
Freitas said a young man had walked into Brothers Deli, placed an order and went back outside. While he was outside, a second car proceeded to pull into the parking lot; that is when shots rang out in broad daylight, according to Freitas.
Dr. John F. Dolan, head of school at St. Mary’s, said that at the time of the shooting, three students were present from the school, which is located near the deli. The three students were kept in a back room by employees until police arrived. The students returned to school after police had cleared the scene, he said.
“As we all know, one of the sad realities of the times in which we live is that no community is immune from this type of incident, although it is sobering when it hits close to home,” Dolan wrote in a statement to the St. Mary’s community.
Maria Angelone, another employee at Brothers Deli, said she was just thankful that nobody was injured in the shooting. The longtime employee could not recall any similar violence occurring throughout her tenure at the restaurant, which is a popular lunch spot for city and district court employees.
“I’ve been here for 15 years and nothing like this has ever happened,” Angelone said.
Police have not yet released any information on the shooting.
Katelyn Sahagian can be reached at [email protected].
