Police say a city worker in Lawrence was on the job when he was suddenly shot to death.
A city public works employee was fatally shot Wednesday afternoon in Lawrence, Massachusetts, according to the Essex County District Attorney's office.
The shooting took place at Andover and Clifton streets, Police Chief Roy Vasque said. The district attorney's office said police responded to a report of shots fired around 2 p.m. and found an adult male suffering from a gunshot wound.
"He was just filling the potholes, doing his job, and 'boom, boom, boom, boom, boom,'" witness Steven King recalled. "I told his two co-workers to press on the wounds to keep the blood in, and saying, 'stay with me, stay with me,' and that's when all the cops started to show up."
The man, who has not been identified, was taken to Lawrence General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The district attorney's office said the DPW worker was reportedly performing road repair at the time of the shooting.
"I heard three shots, come over to the corner of Andover street and I noticed a DPW worker laying on the ground and a car took off up the street and the next thing I know my neighbor said a city worker was on the ground," witness Robert Ansaldi.
While police investigated and searched for the shooter, Andover Street was shut down. Families who were being escorted to their homes said the situation was chaotic.
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"Honestly it's been a mess trying to get home," neighbor Caitlyn Pellerin said. "It's sad that a man has lost his life and his family going through the grieving process."
No other details about the incident were immediately available.
The district attorney said the situation remains "active and fluid" and it would be inappropriate to comment on suspects or a possible motive.
