Man Held Without Bail Following Drive-By Shooting In Lowell

WOBURN – Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Lowell Police Superintendent William Taylor have announced that as a result of a 58A hearing today in Lowell District Court, Rodolfo Santiago, 24, of Lowell, will be held without bail on a charge of armed assault with intent to murder. Judge Barbara Pearson also revoked bail today for Santiago on a pending Superior Court domestic violence case. The next scheduled court hearing for Santiago is Thursday, August 20.

“It is fortunate no one was injured or killed in this incident,” said District Attorney Ryan. “Police believe this defendant fired shots at a vehicle on a highway and officers recovered bullets from outside and inside the victims’ car. One victim reported he felt something hot on the back of his shirt and detectives found a bullet had gone through the outside of the car ending up imbedded in his seat. It appears that the victims very narrowly escaped tragedy.”

Superintendent Taylor added, “This arrest followed a very collaborative effort between detectives with my department and the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office. This arrest is very much a positive step for people in the city of Lowell because this defendant allegedly acted in a very violent manner.”

On Sunday, July 12, at approximately 12:45 a.m., the Lowell Police Department responded to the BP gas station at 309 Chelmsford Street in Lowell for a report of shots fired. Officers were told that a vehicle was fired on earlier in the evening when the vehicle was traveling outbound on the Lowell Connector in the vicinity of the Plain Street exit. An individual stated that a gray Acura pulled alongside that individual’s vehicle and fired several shots. Detectives located two bullet holes on the driver’s side of the victims’ car and recovered a bullet from the hood and a bullet inside a seat. Passengers in the victims’ car were not injured.

Authorities say further investigation revealed that just before midnight on Saturday, July 11, a verbal confrontation allegedly occurred at a convenience store next to the BP gas station between the defendant and an individual in the victims’ vehicle. It was revealed that the defendant followed the victims after the confrontation before firing into their vehicle.

This charge is an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

This incident was investigated by the Lowell Police Department.

The prosecutor assigned to this case is Assistant District Attorney Suzanne Kontz. The Victim Witness Advocate is Kathleen Keefe. Assistant District Attorney Tokufumi Nodaargued at today’s hearing.