Victim, suspect identified in Berlin shooting and I-495 standoff

The men who died following a fatal shooting in Berlin, Massachusetts, and a subsequent police standoff along Interstate 495 have been identified, according to the Worcester County district attorney’s office.Authorities identified the victim as Nicholas Ferreira, 35, of Haverhill. The suspect was identified as Edward Pyne, 43, of Salem, New Hampshire.The investigation began around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday in the parking lot of the Shops at Highland Commons in Berlin.Berlin police said officers were responding to a report of an assault when they received information that shots may also have been fired at the shopping plaza.When officers arrived, they found Ferreira suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was treated at the scene but was later pronounced dead.Witnesses reported hearing gunshots before seeing the victim.At the same time, a witness from the shopping plaza followed the suspected gunman’s gray pickup truck onto Interstate 495 north, Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan said.Law enforcement officers located the truck and stopped it on I-495 near the Lowell Connector.Massachusetts State Police then began what became an hourslong standoff with the suspect.A preliminary investigation found that Pyne died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound during the standoff.SWAT teams used a robot dog, a drone and less-lethal rounds to approach and breach the vehicle before confirming the suspect was dead.Multiple agencies responded to the scene, including crisis negotiators, the Department of Field Services, the bomb squad, a drone unit and personnel from the Middlesex district attorney’s office.Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early said Pyne had “some criminal history” but declined to discuss details about any previous relationship between the suspect and Ferreira.The investigation remains ongoing.

LOWELL, Mass. —

The men who died following a fatal shooting in Berlin, Massachusetts, and a subsequent police standoff along Interstate 495 have been identified, according to the Worcester County district attorney’s office.

Authorities identified the victim as Nicholas Ferreira, 35, of Haverhill. The suspect was identified as Edward Pyne, 43, of Salem, New Hampshire.

The investigation began around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday in the parking lot of the Shops at Highland Commons in Berlin.

Berlin police said officers were responding to a report of an assault when they received information that shots may also have been fired at the shopping plaza.

When officers arrived, they found Ferreira suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was treated at the scene but was later pronounced dead.

Witnesses reported hearing gunshots before seeing the victim.

At the same time, a witness from the shopping plaza followed the suspected gunman’s gray pickup truck onto Interstate 495 north, Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan said.

Law enforcement officers located the truck and stopped it on I-495 near the Lowell Connector.

Massachusetts State Police then began what became an hourslong standoff with the suspect.

A preliminary investigation found that Pyne died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound during the standoff.

SWAT teams used a robot dog, a drone and less-lethal rounds to approach and breach the vehicle before confirming the suspect was dead.

Multiple agencies responded to the scene, including crisis negotiators, the Department of Field Services, the bomb squad, a drone unit and personnel from the Middlesex district attorney’s office.

Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early said Pyne had “some criminal history” but declined to discuss details about any previous relationship between the suspect and Ferreira.

The investigation remains ongoing.