A Massachusetts State Police trooper drew her firearm on a knife-wielding driver in a Chelsea parking lot on Wednesday after spotting a vehicle connected to an out-of-state carjacking rolling north on Broadway around 10 a.m. The driver, identified by police as 33-year-old Igor Laurenco of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, got out of the car as the trooper approached and brandished a large knife at her, according to police.
According to WCVB, the trooper spotted the stolen vehicle traveling northbound on Broadway before it turned onto Parker Street and eventually stopped in a parking lot. WCVB’s report states the vehicle had been reported stolen in a carjacking in Richmond, Virginia, while a separate WCVB search snippet described the carjacking as linked to North Carolina, and the Boston 25 News headline attributed the carjacking to Virginia. The exact location of the original carjacking remains unclear across the available reporting.
Trooper Draws Weapon, Orders Suspect to Drop Knife
Police said that as the trooper approached the stopped vehicle, Laurenco stepped out and brandished the knife at her. She responded by drawing her firearm and ordering him multiple times to drop the weapon, per the WCVB account. Laurenco eventually complied, dropping the knife, and was held at gunpoint until additional troopers arrived and took him into custody.
There were no reports of any injuries during the confrontation, and the vehicle was seized for further investigation, the same report notes. Laurenco was charged with receiving stolen property and assault with a dangerous weapon, and he is expected to be arraigned in Chelsea District Court.
What Massachusetts Law Says About the Weapons Charge
Assault with a dangerous weapon is a serious charge under Massachusetts law. Per the Massachusetts General Court, the offense is punishable by up to five years in state prison, a fine of up to $1,000, or imprisonment in jail for up to two and one-half years. It remains unknown what happened in court following Laurenco’s expected arraignment.
