A shots-fired investigation in Lowell's Acre neighborhood ended with two young men facing felony weapons charges after police say they found loaded handguns in the men's laps during a ride-share stop. Christopher Rivera, 20, of Nashua, New Hampshire, and Sebastian Lach, 18, of Lowell, were both ordered held without bail following a dangerousness hearing in Lowell District Court.
According to the Lowell Sun, police responded to reports of several shots fired in the Acre neighborhood shortly before 9 p.m. on August 31. Witnesses told officers they heard several gunshots, and witnesses reported seeing two males in the area. The account did not say whether homes or vehicles were struck by gunfire, and area cameras were either nonfunctioning or failed to capture anything of value.
Officers who responded to the area observed numerous people gathered at a home in the Acre neighborhood, per the same account. They later saw two males attempting to leave the area and enter a ride-share vehicle. Police say they found loaded handguns in the men's laps.
Weapons Charges
Lach faced charges including carrying a loaded firearm, carrying a firearm without a license and possession of ammunition.
Massachusetts firearms law addresses devices involved in automatic conversion, according to Rifle Configurator. State law also provides penalties for unlawful machine-gun possession, per Rusconi Law. Such devices are designed to enable automatic fire.
Rivera's weapon, an FN Five-seven handgun, had a completely obliterated serial number, the Lowell Sun reported. He was charged with carrying a firearm without a license, carrying a loaded firearm, possession of ammunition, and possession of a large-capacity feeding device. The account did not provide additional state-law details about the offense or the disposition of the weapon.
Neither Man Charged In The Actual Shooting
Neither Rivera nor Lach were charged with the actual shooting. The account did not provide a reason for that charging decision or details about forensic testing. The shooting investigation remained ongoing.
Dangerousness Hearing And A Competency Fight
Judge Cara Krysil found both men a threat to the public and ordered Rivera and Lach held without bail for up to 120 days. Under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 276, Section 58A, prosecutors can seek pretrial detention without bail in District Court if clear and convincing evidence shows no conditions of release could ensure public safety — a legal standard that can permit pretrial detention without bail when its requirements are met.
At the hearing, Bryant filed a motion for $5,000 for an independent psychologist to evaluate Lach, which Krysil allowed. Bryant cited competency concerns. Lach was previously found not competent to stand trial in juvenile court in 2021, 2022 and 2024, and he currently has a pending Juvenile Court firearms case. The account did not provide further details about Lach's pretrial release.
For Rivera, the account did not provide an attorney's characterization of his dangerousness or criminal record. Both men are scheduled to return to court for a probable cause hearing, but the account did not state the date.
Part Of A Broader Pattern In The Acre
The case adds to a string of recent gun seizures in Lowell. An 18-year-old Lowell defendant was arrested on August 7, 2026, after police investigating July 24, 2026, gunfire near Walnut Street found a backpack containing a Draco pistol. The Acre neighborhood, where the incident took place, was the site of this shooting investigation, even as citywide crime has generally declined.
The sources reviewed for this article did not verify the Lowell Police Department's participation in the Shannon Community Safety Initiative, a 20-year observance, a 1,600-hour overtime figure or a January 2021 City Council vote.
