SWAT subdues barricaded shooter
Police officers swarmed a Danvers trailer park yesterday after a shooting suspect barricaded himself inside a trailer and shot at officers, as a SWAT team responded to arrest the man after a two-hour standoff.
The 62-year-old suspect, Joseph Hurley, is accused of shooting a female victim multiple times in the trailer park located at 98 Newbury St., in Danvers.
After the victim was shot, she reportedly fled to a neighbor’s trailer and called police — who responded to both the suspect’s trailer and the trailer where the victim was located.
“As officers began to approach the trailers, the suspect fired several rounds out of the window, towards officers,” the Essex County
District Attorney’s Office said in a statement.
Officers were then able to make contact with the victim, who was transported to Beverly Hospital and later flown to a Boston hospital. The victim was in critical but stable condition as of yesterday afternoon, according to Massachusetts State Police.
All available MSP Troop A patrols were dispatched to help at the scene and shut down Route 1 south at Dayton Street.
There were 47 MSP patrols, K9 troopers, and troopers from special ops and investigative units along Route 1 and to the north and west of the trailer park. The MSP Bomb Squad deployed Boston Dynamics’ Spot the robot dog.
The Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (NEMLEC) responded to the scene, and the SWAT Team contained the suspect within the trailer.
After about a two-hour standoff, Hurley was taken into custody by NEMLEC officers and transported to the hospital.
Hurley is being charged with armed assault with intent to murder, three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition. He’s expected to be arraigned in Salem District Court on Tuesday.
The Essex DA’s Office said, “This continues to be an active investigation by the Danvers Police Department, Essex County District Attorney’s Office, State Police Detectives assigned to the District Attorney’s Office, and Massachusetts State Police Crime Scene Services.”