Part of downtown was blocked off for hours Friday evening after a late afternoon shooting in the Middle Street parking lot left one man dead and another in custody.
Police Chief Dana Flynn said in a statement that dispatchers began receiving reports of a shooting at about 5:45 p.m. An officer who quickly arrived on the scene “confronted the suspect and took him into custody without incident,” Flynn said.
The 41-year-old victim, who has not been identified pending notification of next of kin, was taken to Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Plymouth, where he was pronounced dead at 6:28 p.m.
Police vehicles blocked traffic between Leyden and Russell streets as local and state police investigators combed the scene for evidence.
There was an unconfirmed report that the shooting stemmed from a “road rage” incident, and that the victim was shot several times, including in the head. A car with its hood open and doors ajar was parked at an angle on Main Street near the intersection of Middle Street, but it was unclear whether it was related to the shooting. A tow truck with its lights flashing was stationed nearby, apparently in preparation to take the vehicle away.
Some nearby businesses, including the Anejo restaurant, continued to serve customers as the investigation was being conducted, but downtown was otherwise eerily quiet on what would normally be a busy evening.
The Middle Street lot has been the scene of violence before, but nothing of this magnitude. Most of the incidents have involved fights that took place as bars in the area were closing for the night. The lot, which is owned by the town, does not have security cameras.
“The investigation remains active and ongoing,” said Flynn, who did not provide any more details Friday night.
Mark Pothier can be reached at mark@plymouthindependent.org.