Late Thursday night, a barrage of gunfire tore through Burtt Street in Lowell's Highlands neighborhood, leaving bullet holes in houses and parked cars and sending rattled residents outside to check on their homes. At least two residences and two vehicles were struck, according to police, after neighbors called 911 when they heard numerous shots. Responding officers found shell casings scattered on the street, and authorities said everyone in the area was accounted for with no injuries reported. Detectives later cordoned off parts of the block and launched an investigation.
Police say shooting appears isolated
Deputy Superintendent Mark LeBlanc told the Lowell Sun that the preliminary investigation indicates the incident appears to be isolated and that no one was hurt. Officers discovered that bullets had struck multiple homes on the 60 and 70 blocks of Burtt Street, with rounds punching through exterior walls and, in one case, passing through a kitchen window. Two parked vehicles were also hit. Shell casings were recovered at the scene, and the Lowell Police Criminal Investigations Bureau has taken charge of the probe.
Neighbors and Reddit capture the chaos
Residents quickly turned to local social channels and neighborhood message boards after the shooting, describing the sound of sustained gunfire and people fleeing the area. A thread on Reddit's Lowell community collected timestamps and firsthand accounts within minutes of the shots, reflecting the scramble and confusion that followed. Local users urged neighbors to check doorbell and surveillance cameras and to share anything that might help investigators piece the night together.
Detectives hunt for video and suspects on e-bikes
Emergency radio traffic and a preliminary review of surveillance footage suggested the suspects may have fled on electric bicycles, the Lowell Sun reported. Detectives have asked anyone with video or other information from the area to contact the Lowell Police Criminal Investigations Bureau so officers can build a fuller picture of what happened.
Highlands context and call for tips
The Highlands has seen periodic firearm incidents in past years, and police officials say community video and tips routinely help move investigations forward. The Lowell Police Department's 2020 crime summary documents prior shootings in the city and underscores the role resident surveillance footage can play in solving cases, according to the department's published materials (Lowell Police Department). Authorities have not announced any arrests in this latest case.
