Authorities are investigating the death of a 15-year-old girl in Lowell as an apparent homicide, according to Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan.
The DA said Lowell police responded to a 911 call reporting that the body of a 15-year-old girl was found in an apartment on Lawrence Street shortly after 6 p.m. Friday.
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The family member who found the victim also reported they saw traumatic injuries to the body, according to authorities. Investigators reported that the victim had suffered apparent gunshot wounds.
Shell casings were also located in the area, according to authorities.
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The teen's grandmother told NBC10 Boston that she went to her granddaughter's school to attend her eighth grade graduation on Friday morning, but the teen never showed up. She later learned what happened from a family member.
A couple who walk their dog several times a day happened to be driving and saw the heavy police presence. They said they heard the teen's father hysterical, saying "somebody killed my daughter."
The couple said they believe they met the teen before and can't wrap their heads around why someone would shoot an innocent girl.
"I think she's petted my dog many of times because I walk three miles a day and she'd be sitting out there with her family," the woman told NBC10 Boston.
A man who's lived in the neighborhood for more than 50 years said that he was stunned to hear the news. He also said police were in the neighborhood Thursday night. His son told him he thought he heard gunfire.
He said, 'I think I just heard gunshots.' And I said 'No, not around here. That doesn't happen around here.' And he said, 'No it was pop pop pop pop,' and I said, 'I don't think so,'" the man said. "And then maybe 10 minutes or so after somebody else must've called because I didn't think it was gunshots."
It's worth noting that the son heard that noise on Thursday night, and the victim's body was not found until Friday night. It's unclear if the situations are at all connected.
The case is being investigated as an apparent homicide by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, Lowell Police and the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit. Neighbors told NBC10 Boston they do not believe they are in any danger.
More details were not immediately available.
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