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Stray Bullet Kills Innocent Woman In Chelsea

CHELSEA (CBS) – Two people were killed during a pair of overnight shootings in Chelsea that investigators do not believe were connected.

Massachusetts State Police and Chelsea police are investigating the two shootings that left a 35-year-old woman and a 36-year-old man dead early Saturday morning.

The Suffolk County District Attorney's office said on Saturday that a woman was shot and killed just after midnight on Shawmut Ave. The victim was inside her apartment when she was shot in the head by a person on the street.

Chelsea Shooting
A woman was struck and killed while at the window of her Chelsea apartment. (WBZ-TV)

Chelsea City Councilor Joe Perlatonda told WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Kim Tunnicliffe that the victim of the first shooting was drawn to the window after hearing noise on the street.

"Some woman overheard an altercation coming from the street. She looked out the window and at that time a stray bullet hit her and killed her," said Perlatonda.

Neighbors tell WBZ-TV that the woman had three children.

On Saturday afternoon state police released a surveillance image of two people who may have information about the homicide that left the 35-year-old woman dead.

The photo was taken near Shawmut Avenue at Cottage Street shortly after midnight, and anyone who knows them is asked to call police.

chelsea homicide
Police are looking for the people in this photo after a Chelsea homicide on October 18. (Photo credit Massachusetts State Police)

"Someone out there has specific information on what happened on Spencer Street and who was involved," Chelsea Police Chief Brian Kyes said. "We urge anyone with that knowledge to come forward."

A neighbor told Tunnicliff that similar incidents are regular occurrence on Shawmut Street.

"There's usually people fighting in front of our houses. Fighting over drugs, weapons, everything," the neighbor said. "Cops come over here often. Very often actually."

Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said on Saturday afternoon that investigators believe the woman was not part of the dispute on the street.

"The evidence thus far suggests she was completely unconnected to the violence that took her life," Suffolk DA Daniel F. Conley said. "This is a crime of terrible violence that can be solved with the public's help."

Later Saturday morning at about 1:20 a.m., police were called to a second shooting, this one inside a club on Spencer Ave. inside the French Naturalization Club.

The male victim was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Investigators said both shooting victims are Chelsea residents, though their identities have not been released.

No arrests have been made.

Anyone with information on the shootings is asked to call Chelsea police detectives at (617) 466-4843 or the Suffolk County state police detective unit at (617) 727-8817.

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