Jill Harmacinski, The Eagle-Tribune, North Andover, Mass. –
LAWRENCE — A store clerk was pistol-whipped, a man had a bottle broken over his back and was shot and a Lowell man was stabbed in the chest as violence continued throughout the city this New Year’s weekend.
And police are still investigating Saturday morning’s murder of Johann Miranda, 29, who was killed after an argument near a food truck on Campagnone Common. The Fairhaven man, who was visiting family in the area, was shot multiple times.
On Saturday night, police believe Jesse Pena, 20, of 202 Arlington St., walked into Eblens sporting goods store at 386 Essex St. and pistol-whipped a clerk around 7 p.m., according to police reports.
The store was closing up for the night when Pena allegedly forced his way in, pulled a gun from his waistband and then pistol-whipped Jeffrey Martinez, 22, over his left eye. He then smashed the glass in the front door, police said.
He fled the area in a Cadillac SUV, which police, with help from area residents, traced to Pena’s home at 202 Arlington St.
Police spoke with Carolina Pena, 43, Jesse’s mother, who later tried to run from the area. Police quickly caught up with her and found a black handgun in her pocketook. She told police her son had come home frantically, left the house and tried to dispose of the gun, according to a report by Sgt. Shawn Quaglietta.
Carolina Pena was arrested and charged with illegal firearms and ammunition possession charges, receiving stolen property, disorderly conduct, accessory after the fact and trying to obstruct justice.
Her son is facing charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, malicious damage, illegal firearms and ammunition charges and more.
On Sunday, just after 4 a.m., police received a report of a fight in the street and shots fired at 56 Hancock St. Officers who arrived found a .22 caliber revolver on the trunk of a car with Florida plates. Police later got a call from an ER staffer at Lawrence General Hospital who said a man was being treated for a gunshot wound he suffered on Hancock Street.
Nathan Bradshaw, 28, told police he was dropping some people off at a party on Hancock Street when “drama” ensued. He said he was punched in the face and had a bottle broken over his back. As he tried to run away, he was shot. Bradshaw suffered a through and through gun shot wound to his left flank and back area and a large laceration to the center of his back caused by a knife or glass bottle, according to a report by officer Michael Mangan.
At 8:30 Sunday morning, police received a report of a stabbing at 200 Parker St. Officer Carleton Trombly went to the neighborhood to investigate and found Anthony Nobrega, 40, of Lowell, with a stab wound to his chest, blood coming from his back and a large contusion to his forehead.
Nobrega said he was attacked when he went to Parker Street to visit an ex-girlfriend.
He was taken to Lawrence General Hospital for treatment, although his injuries do not appear to be life-threatening, police said.
All of the incidents this weekend remain under investigation by Lawrence police.
