A 38-year-old Lowell man is being held without bail after police say he opened fire in the courtyard of a downtown apartment building, rattling residents late at night. Authorities identified the suspect as Joshua Ramos-Rios, who police say goes by the nickname "Montana," and said he was arrested the afternoon after the shooting. At the request of the Middlesex district attorney's office, a judge ordered Ramos-Rios held without bail pending a 58A dangerousness hearing.
According to the Boston Herald, Ramos-Rios was arraigned July 9 in Lowell District Court on charges that include armed assault with intent to murder, assault by a dangerous weapon, carrying a firearm without a license, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building and possession of ammunition. Police reported finding two 40mm shell casings near a set of mailboxes in the courtyard and said surveillance footage shows Ramos-Rios and another man walking toward the building late on the night of July 7, then returning at about 1:16 a.m. the next morning. Officers were called to the scene at about 1:17 a.m., according to the report.
Defense attorney Roland Milliard told the Boston Herald that "there is a gaping hole in this case. everything is firearm related, but they don't have a firearm," saying investigators had not produced a weapon at the time of arraignment. Milliard argued that questions remain about how the available evidence actually ties Ramos-Rios to a gun being fired.
What Police Say Happened
Investigators say video from nearby surveillance cameras places Ramos-Rios at the Market Street complex around the time of the gunfire, and witnesses reported hearing three to four shots. Officers said they recovered two 40mm shell casings near the mailboxes outside 590 Market St., then tracked Ramos-Rios to an address on Adams Street, where they arrested him at about 2:45 p.m. the same day. Police forwarded their incident report to the Middlesex district attorney's office, which in turn sought the dangerousness hearing.
Charges and Past Record
The complaint lays out a list of weapons and violent-crime counts, including armed assault with intent to murder along with several firearms-related charges. Police reports also cite what they describe as a lengthy criminal history for Ramos-Rios, including prior drug and weapons cases involving trafficking cocaine, possession in a school zone, conspiracy and distribution, possession of a sawed-off shotgun and larceny. Prosecutors pointed to that record in arguing he should remain locked up, and court records will determine whether he can continue to be held while the case moves forward.
Next Steps in Court
Ramos-Rios was arraigned on July 9 in Lowell District Court, where the judge scheduled a 58A dangerousness hearing to decide whether he should stay in custody before trial. At that hearing, the court will weigh the district attorney's request that he be held without bail. No trial date has been set, and if prosecutors seek indictments, the case will return to Middlesex courts for additional proceedings.
Neighbors' Reaction
Residents in and around the Market Street building told police the late-night gunfire left them shaken, with one unnamed neighbor linking the chaos to what she described as ongoing trouble associated with "Montana." According to the incident report, one witness told officers she feared for her life because of "the number of shootings Montana has done in the area," while others said they were jolted awake by multiple shots. Investigators have asked anyone with video or information about the incident to contact police as their probe continues.
