6 Charged In Methuen Drive-By Pellet Gun Shooting
METHUEN (CBS) -- Four juveniles and two adults are facing charges after allegedly participating in a drive-by pellet gun shooting in Methuen early Saturday morning.
Officers were called to Hemenway Street around 12:50 a.m. after receiving a report about four males in a black SUV who allegedly shot a pellet gun at a man walking down the street, according to the Methuen police blotter.
They found a Black Honda Pilot, which matched the vehicle description given by the victim, on Elm Street.
Police had the suspect exit the car, handcuffed, and patted them down.
An officer spotted what appeared to be a handgun handle sticking out from under the second row passenger's seat, police say.
The officer removed the weapon, which was identified as a pellet gun.
A second pellet gun was also found under a third row seat.
Investigators say the suspects refused to cooperate by not giving their names.
The victim, Edward LaDuke, told police that he was heading toward Riverside Drive when he heard two "pop" sounds, and then felt something zip by his head.
On Saturday night, LaDuke told WBZ-TV's Jim Smith what happened in the residential neighborhood.
"They keep driving by and all of a sudden I hear pop, pop, pop, and by my head you hear something going through the leaves right next to me on the side of the sidewalk," he said. "I felt it whiz by."
LaDuke then jumped in his jeep and chased them, but police caught up to them first.
"They caught them within 10 minutes. It's amazing," he told WBZ. "They did an awesome job."
He turned and saw four males in the SUV.
One of the passengers was allegedly hanging out of the window with what appeared to be a gun in his hand.
The pellet guns, a CO2 cartridge, and pellets were collected as evidence.
While investigating, police found a vehicle in the area with a window shattered.
They say it appeared to have been from a BB or pellet.
The SUV was towed from the scene.
The six arrested have each been charged with assault by a dangerous weapon, pellet gun, and disorderly person.
Police have not ruled out bringing additional charges against them.
The incident remains under investigation.
