Two Critically Injured After Gunman Opens Fire on Vehicles in Cambridge

Two Critically Injured After Gunman Opens Fire on Vehicles in Cambridge

Two people were critically injured on Monday after a gunman opened fire on motorists along Memorial Drive in Cambridge, Massachusetts, before he was stopped during a shootout involving law enforcement officers and an armed civilian.

Authorities identified the suspect as 46-year-old Tyler Brown of Boston. According to prosecutors, Brown allegedly walked along the busy roadway near the Charles River firing repeatedly at moving and stationary vehicles in broad daylight, causing panic among drivers and pedestrians in the area close to Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Officials said the incident unfolded shortly after 1 p.m. when Brown, armed with what authorities described as an assault-style rifle, began shooting indiscriminately at traffic on Memorial Drive. Witness videos circulating online showed frightened motorists abandoning their vehicles and running for safety as gunshots echoed through the area.

The attack was eventually stopped after a Massachusetts State Police trooper and a legally armed civilian confronted Brown and returned fire. Prosecutors said Brown was struck multiple times before being taken into custody.

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Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said the quick response prevented what could have become a far deadlier incident.

“This incident lasted minutes thanks to that trooper and that civilian,” Ryan said during a press conference.

Authorities disclosed that Brown fired between 50 and 60 rounds during the shooting spree, damaging several vehicles and triggering chaos on one of Cambridge’s busiest roads.

Two male victims inside separate vehicles sustained life-threatening injuries and were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment. Investigators said there was no indication that the victims were specifically targeted, suggesting the shooting was random.

Witnesses described terrifying scenes as bullets struck cars in traffic. One witness, Joseph Minini Rodriguez, who said he was speaking with emergency dispatchers during the incident, described how the situation escalated rapidly after Brown began firing on vehicles.

After shooting at drivers, the suspect “just straight-up gets into a gunfight with the cops,” Rodriguez said.

Another witness told local media that bullets struck his vehicle’s radiator while another round hit a nearby car. Videos from the scene also captured rowers continuing along the Charles River as the shooting unfolded nearby.

Investigators revealed that Cambridge police had received a warning from Boston police shortly before the attack that Brown had reportedly been acting erratically and was believed to be armed. By the time state troopers arrived at Memorial Drive, prosecutors said Brown was already firing at vehicles in what authorities described as an active shooter situation.

Brown was transported to a hospital under police custody and is expected to face multiple charges, including armed assault with intent to murder and several firearm-related offences.

Local media reports also indicated that Brown had a previous criminal history, including an earlier case involving allegations that he fired at Boston police officers during a separate confrontation in 2020.

The area around Memorial Drive remained closed for several hours as investigators searched for evidence and examined damaged vehicles. Authorities later confirmed there was no ongoing threat to the public but urged residents to avoid the area while investigations continued.

Police are asking anyone with information, surveillance footage, or videos related to the shooting to contact Massachusetts State Police detectives.

Two Critically Injured After Gunman Opens Fire on Vehicles in Cambridge