Public Safety Response to Memorial Drive on May 11; Suspect Taken Into Custody

Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan, Massachusetts State Police Colonel Geoffrey Noble and Acting Police Commissioner Pauline Wells have confirmed the ongoing investigation into a shooting that occurred this afternoon on Memorial Drive in Cambridge between River Street and Pleasant Street Extension. 

Shortly after 1:00 p.m. Cambridge Police received a call from Boston Police reporting that a person, later identified as the person involved in today’s shooting, might be in Cambridge and that he had been observed to be acting erratically. Boston Police also relayed that the suspect was believed to be in possession of a rifle.

Cambridge Police and Massachusetts State Police began a response to the area of Memorial Drive. When Massachusetts State Police arrived, they saw an active shooter situation.  The suspect was on foot walking east in the roadway, allegedly in possession of an assault-style rifle, which he was actively firing in an erratic fashion at vehicles in the roadway.

The suspect allegedly shot two male victims who were inside separate cars before being confronted by a Massachusetts State Police Trooper and a civilian, who was in legal possession of a firearm.  After being confronted, the suspect allegedly continued to fire the weapon striking the State Police Cruiser.  Both the civilian and the Trooper fired their weapons and the suspect was struck multiple times in the extremities.

The suspect was treated on scene by police officers and transported to a Boston hospital. The two victims, who are not known to the suspect,  have been hospitalized with life-threatening injuries.  

The preliminary investigation indicates that upwards of 60 rounds were fired within a very short period of time. The suspect created a extraordinarily dangerous situation during a busy part of the afternoon where innocent people were driving their vehicles, walking, biking and rowing on the river. 

The suspect in this case has been identified as Tyler Brown, 46 of Boston. Brown is currently in custody at the hospital and is expected to be charged with two counts of armed assault with intent to murder and firearms offenses.

This is an active and ongoing investigation being conducted by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, Massachusetts State Police and Cambridge Police. Anyone with  any information or video from this afternoon is asked to call State Police Detectives at 781-897-6600. 

Individuals involved have also asked that their privacy be respected.

Statement from City Manager Yi-An Huang

View a Replay of Tonight's Press Conference Involving the Middlesex District Attorney, Cambridge and Massachusetts State Police: