Park shooting in Lynn leaves 3 hurt

Police say victims' injuries aren't life-threatening

LYNN - Three men were shot last night on the basketball court at the Warren Street Playground, a park located directly behind a children's day-care center and that is supposed to be closed after sundown.

Police responded to calls from neighbors at about 8:30 and found the victims, said to be in their teens or early 20s, shot in the legs and torso at the park on the corner of Warren and Commercial streets. The victims, whose names were not released, were taken to the hospital. Their injuries were not believed to be life-threatening, a police official said.

"At this time they are all considered stable," said Lieutenant Chris Reddy, a Lynn police spokesman.

Nearby residents poured into the streets of the densely populated neighborhood after hearing gunfire and seeing flashing police lights. Lisa Smith, 37, a mother of two, said she was watching television at home when she heard gunfire.

"I heard about six shots, and I stayed away from the windows for a few minutes until I saw the police. Then I came outside," Smith said. She has lived in Lynn her whole life and said the area is known as a trouble spot. While she does not always feel safe in her neighborhood, she said, she tries to avoid trouble.

Another neighbor, Ana Ramirez, 19, said authorities should shut the park, which has signs posted saying it is closed after dark. "We have children, and it's dangerous," she said.

Ramirez went outside when the police arrived, and said she heard one of the victims screaming in pain as rescuers got to him.

The park includes a small playground for children and a basketball and recreation area. Angel Cruz, 22, who lives in the same building as Ramirez, just steps from the day-care center and the park, said he worries for his 2-month-old son.

"I'm not going to take him to the park," Cruz said of the near future when his son will want to go outside and play.

No one expressed surprise that the park was a crime scene - it was not its first time, several neighbors said.

Cruz recalled a shooting at the park about the same time last year that had police shutting down the whole block while officers investigated.

He said that every year, as days get longer and the weather gets warmer, the park gets more dangerous.

"They have problems every summer," Cruz said.

State and local police were investigating, and no arrests have been made, Reddy said.