LOWELL — A 30-year-old Lowell man was shot in the shoulder as at least 20 gunshots were fired early Sunday morning outside a Gorham Street duplex where police arrested two residents on gun charges and a third on drug charges.
Officers were called to 1431-1433 Gorham St., about 3:10 a.m., when multiple 911 callers reported gunshots in the area.
Officers arrived and found evidence that at least 20 shots were fired, according to police. It appears shots may have been flying in two directions after someone shot at the duplex, since a glass-walled bus stop across Gorham Street from the duplex was struck and shattered by a round.
A short time later, a 30-year-old Lowell man showed up at the emergency room of Lowell General Hospital/Saints Campus with a gunshot wound to the shoulder, and police say he was shot during the incident on Gorham Street.
That man is expected to survive.
While investigating the shooting, police arrested Sovann Yern, 26, and Steven Yern, 23, both of 1433 Gorham St. Both men were held without bail on Sunday pending arraignment Monday in Lowell District Court.
Sovann Yern is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Steven Yern is charged with possession of a sawed-off shotgun, possession of a large capacity feeding device, unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number, improper storage of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, and receiving stolen property over $250.
Another resident of the duplex, Sovath Yern, 25, of 1431 Gorham St., was charged with possession of a class D substance with intent to distribute. Sovath Yern was released on bail.
Police declined to say where the weapons that led to the charges were located.
The duplex at 1431-1433 Gorham St., was also the site of a shooting on Aug. 26, 2012, when a 32-year-old Lowell man with gang ties was shot four times at that address.
A few hours later, another man was shot on Franklin Street in Lowell in what then police Superintendent Kenneth Lavallee described as a retaliatory attack. Over the next few weeks of August and September of 2012 there were several more shootings around the city that were investigated as possible retaliation.
Police said the shooting early Sunday morning does not appear to be random. They declined to comment on whether retaliation is possible.
Anyone with information is asked to call Lowell police at 978-937-3200 or Crimestoppers at 978-459-TIPS (8477).
Tipsters can remain anonymous, but can receive up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest.
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