Violent past surfaces in Danvers case
The Danvers trailer park shooting suspect who’s accused of firing at police officers while he was barricaded inside a trailer had faced domestic violence allegations last year, according to court records.
The female family member told police at the time that 62-year-old Joseph Hurley “was going to kill her.”
Hurley was held without bail on Tuesday following the reported shooting in Danvers — which led to a two-hour standoff with police and SWAT on Monday.
Hurley is accused of shooting a female victim multiple times in the trailer park located at 98 Newbury St., in Danvers. She was transported to a Boston hospital, where she was in critical but stable condition.
Last April, police responded to the Danvers trailer park for a domestic call involving Hurley and a female family member. Police reported at the time that the victim had “fresh cuts and bleeding scrapes on both forearms and an abrasion on the back of her head at the base of her neck.”
The upset “visibly shaken” female victim told police that Hurley had destroyed all of the furniture inside their trailer, punched her in the head, and threw her to the ground. She also told officers that Hurley was drunk and “was going to kill her.”
When Hurley came out of the trailer, he was reportedly slurring his words and was unsteady on his feet. Police arrested Hurley, and charged him with assault and battery on a family/ household member.
Officers informed the female victim of her restraining order rights, and she told police that she would pursue a restraining order the next day in court. Hurley was ordered to not contact and stay away from the victim.
But a week later, the victim filed a motion to remove the stay away and no contact orders. Shortly thereafter, the domestic violence charges were tossed.
Hurley is now 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.
After the victim was shot on Monday, she reportedly fled to a neighbor’s trailer and called police. As officers arrived at the scene, Hurley allegedly fired several rounds at officers. After about a two-hour standoff, Hurley was taken into custody by a SWAT team.
Hurley will face a dangerousness hearing next week.
Under the state’s dangerousness hearing statute, prosecutors can request that a defendant be held without bail because “the defendant, if released, would pose a danger to another person or the community.”