SLAY SHOCK IN HAVERHILL
‘PEACEFUL’ NEIGHBORHOOD STUNNED BY TEEN SHOOTING
A Haverhill teen was shot to death as he answered his front door Tuesday night in what investigators said they believe was a targeted act.
Bryce Finn, 18, was shot in the chest when he opened the door at his home on Rainbow Drive in Haverhill about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday.
One neighbor heard two shots fired, then commotion as police raced to the otherwise quiet neighborhood.
The shooter ran off after firing the shots, witnesses told police, and remained at large yesterday. Finn was rushed to Merrimack Valley Hospital in Haverhill, where he was pronounced dead.
Police do not believe the shooting to be a random act, said Carrie Kimball Monahan, spokeswoman for Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett. Authorities declined to identify a suspect or comment on any possible motive.
Haverhill High School Principal Beth Kitsos said in a statement, “Bryce, like many young people today, faced challenges growing up. Our experiences here at Haverhill High School essentially showed he was a young man who kept a low profile. These tragic events and a young person’s life have an adverse effect on many young people but also deeply affect all in the school system that works so hard to help young men and women as they navigate through the process of growing up.”
Finn’s family declined to comment when they returned home yesterday afternoon, but neighbors in the quiet section of Haverhill said they were rattled by the rare killing.
Neighbor John O’Neil was startled to hear two gunshots shortly after 9:30 p.m.
“I’ve never heard a gunshot before, especially in this neighborhood,” said O’Neil, a 20year resident. “It’s shocking.”
Ken Tardif, who lives down the street, said he came outside when he saw all the police cars descend on Rainbow Drive.
Tardif said nothing like this had happened in the 27 years he’s been living on the street. “It’s very peaceful. People get along very well here,” he said.
Haverhill Mayor James J. Fiorentini stopped by the Rainbow Drive home, then knocked on a few doors in the neighborhood. “I wanted to express sympathy for the Finns and to hear any concerns from people on the street,” Fiorentini said, declining further comment.
Gran t Chesky, 18, a friend who was on his way over to hang out with Finn, said, “I don’t know who would take his life like that. I can’t put it together. Bryce was never the type to have problems with anyone.”
Chesky said he was driving to Finn’s house late Tuesday when he got a call from Finn’s girlfriend that said, “Bryce just got shot in the chest. Don’t come.”
“That’s when I immediately started bawling my eyes out,” Chesky said, his voice breaking as he stood staring at Finn’s yellow house. “I was going over to hang out. It was just like a regular night for us. I was just going to hang out like I do every night.”
Finn’s pals remembered him as the life of the party.
Cooper Gibbs, a year behind Finn at Haverhill High, said Finn was “the most genuine guy I’ve ever met,” and called him an “absolute clown, always grinning and laughing.”
“He was always looking out for everyone he cared for,” Gibbs said. “He was a ‘gentle giant’ who would show you respect if you showed respect to him.”
Chesky said Finn — who lived with his mother, younger brother, girlfriend and cat named Scotty — was the “coolest kid on this block. He was a funny kid. He was such a happy person, living life.” Herald reporter Chris Villani contributed to this report.