LYNN — Police and firefighters responded to a report of shots fired at the Richdale Convenience Store at 59 North Franklin St. Monday at 8:22 p.m.
When police arrived on the scene, Lt. Michael Kmiec of the Lynn Police Department said a vehicle parked in front of the store had been struck. One round went through the shop window, and appeared to have struck a refrigerator, causing gas to leak through the store.
District Fire Chief Joseph Zukas said that he was responding to the fire on 62 Laighton St. (see page A5) when a call came in about a potential hazardous material situation on North Franklin Street. He said that after evacuating and ventilating the store, the situation was neutralized quickly.
“The bullet went through the front glass and then ricocheted off of a refrigerator. It was thought that it may have punctured some type of refrigeration unit, so it exhausted the air and everybody was evacuated out of it,” Zukas said. “There was a mist of gas, and we were just concerned that it was a hazardous material situation, but we got some fans and we ventilated it and rendered it safe.”
The convenience store was temporarily closed for repairs, but was open by 1:00 p.m. Tuesday. Kmiec said that, according to witnesses, multiple shots were fired.
The Lynn Police Department is still investigating this incident.
Anthony Cammalleri can be reached at [email protected]
