3 people dead, including gunman, after shooting in Boston suburb, police say

WINTHROP, Mass. — Three people are dead, including the suspected gunman, after a shooting Saturday afternoon in a Boston suburb that a spokesperson for police and the city government initially described as a “mass casualty event.”

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Update 5:30 p.m. EDT June 26: Police in Winthrop, Massachusetts, said the two victims and the alleged gunman died, WFXT reported.

According to the Massachusetts State Police, the gunman hijacked a truck and crashed it into a building. The suspect then opened fire, killing a man and a woman, troopers said. The alleged gunman also died after being shot by Winthrop police, Massachusetts State Police Spokesman Dave Procopio said in an email to The Associated Press.

“We are investigating whether the male may have been trying to engage the suspect to end the threat,” Procopio said.

Original report: According to a news release, police in Winthrop, Massachusetts, received reports that a large truck had crashed into a building, followed by shots fired, at about 2:41 p.m. EDT.

Authorities arriving at the scene found two people had been shot, according to Winthrop Police Chief Terence Delehanty.

A gunman was identified by police, and Delahanty confirmed that police fired shots at the person. The alleged gunman sustained “serious, life-threatening injuries” and was taken to an area hospital, according to the news release.

The conditions of the two victims were not immediately known, according to WFXT.

One police officer was taken to an area hospital for evaluation but was not seriously injured, Delahanty said.

Earlier, John Guilfoil, head of a public relations agency hired by local cities and towns, tweeted that “We are confirming a mass casualty incident in Winthrop per @Winthroppolice. Very active scene at this time. Guilfoil also posted to the city’s public safety page that there are “multiple injured people,” and advised motorists to avoid the area.

Winthrop is located east of Boston near Logan International Airport.

Earlier, the Winthrop Police Department tweeted that there was an “active crime scene in town,” but did not elaborate. Officials added in the tweet that there was no active danger to the public.

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