Local News
The police activity resulted in both the northbound and southbound lanes of I-495 being closed Tuesday afternoon.
A person was killed and the suspect who allegedly shot them died of self-inflicted wounds in a police standoff Tuesday afternoon during rush hour on I-495 in Lowell, authorities announced.
Berlin police responded to reports of shots fired around 3:30 p.m. at Highland Plaza, Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early said at a press conference Tuesday evening.
Early said police arrived to find the victim “injured by several gunshot wounds.” Emergency responders provided medical aid, but they were pronounced dead at the scene.
A witness who was at the plaza followed the suspect’s vehicle onto I-495 South, where it was stopped by State Police near mile marker 91, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said during the press conference.
Law enforcement accessed the suspect’s vehicle by shattering the window with non-lethal rounds and deploying a drone to assess the situation inside, State Police Deputy Superintendent Daniel Tucker said.
The suspect was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound and was declared dead, Ryan said.
The suspect and the victim knew each other, Early said, though he declined to comment on the specifics of their relationship.
Early also noted the suspect had a prior criminal record.
“There is no threat to the public at this time,” Early said in a statement. “The investigation is in its early stages and will continue ongoing in the coming days.”
Incident shut down I-495 in Lowell for hours
At about 3:30 p.m., Berlin police responded to a report of an assault happening in the Highland Commons parking lot. On their way to the scene, they were updated with a report of possible shots fired, police said on Facebook.
In an X post just after 4:30 p.m., State Police said that I-495 was closed in both directions due to “an ongoing law enforcement investigation” and urged drivers to avoid the area.
The Massachusetts State Police are asking the public to avoid 495 in Lowell, as there is an ongoing law enforcement investigation that has closed both sides of the highway in that area. We will update as we have more information.
— Massachusetts State Police (@MassStatePolice) June 30, 2026
Northbound traffic was diverted off Exit 89 to Route 3, and southbound traffic was diverted off Exit 92 to Route 38, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) said on X. As of 7:30 p.m., the southbound lane had reopened, but the northbound lanes remained closed, police said on X.
Lanes remain shut down on 495 North in Lowell as a law enforcement investigation continues. The southbound side of 495 has now reopened.
— Massachusetts State Police (@MassStatePolice) June 30, 2026
All travel lanes are now open on I-495 North and South in Lowell, a State Police spokesperson confirmed around 10 p.m. Tuesday.
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