Stabbings, shooting trouble Salem
Salem police responded to several incidents of serious violence Wednesday night - including one that may be related to gang activity - but it wasn't related to the downtown Halloween festivities.
There was a double stabbing in the Point area and a shooting on Broadway near Canal Street. All victims survived and were treated for their injuries. Both occurred long after the Haunted Happenings bash was over, and happened outside the downtown limits.
"This has happened to us before," said Lt. Conrad Prosniewski. "Something happens away from the downtown, away from our control."
At about 11:30 p.m., police responded to a stabbing report on Lafayette Street, outside a home located behind Prime Gas. They found two men had been stabbed, apparently by the same person. Prosniewski said one is a 20-year-old from Marblehead who spends much of his time in Salem, and the other is a 29-year-old Salem resident.
One of the victims was reportedly stabbed after an altercation. The second victim got into an argument with the perpetrator, after he complained about what he thought was a loud party but what was reportedly noise related to the first attack.
Both men were stabbed several times in their torsos and were taken to the Salem Hospital emergency room for treatment. One has been released and the other, said Prosniewski, is reportedly recovering in the hospital.
At about 12:30 a.m. Thursday morning, police got a call from someone driving to Salem Hospital, who said a man had been shot. Police went there and discovered the victim, a 17-year-old from Lynn, had been shot once in the stomach by a small-caliber gun. The teen was conscious at the time of the call, but was badly wounded and had not been released from the hospital as of press time.
He had been shot outside 88 Broadway near Canal Street.
Police aren't sure yet who the shooter is, or what caused the argument that precipitated the shooting. Salem police are working with local police departments to investigate.
Although the worst of the violence involved Salem homes and residents, the downtown festivities did result in 14 arrests - most of them on charges of disorderly conduct and public drinking.
One of the arrests was a first for Salem police: They arrested a vendor who was selling illegally, without a permit, and refused to move when police asked.
Another first was the religious protester who was arrested for disorderly conduct after he refused to comply with city bylaws that prohibit use of bullhorns and other noisy devices after 8 p.m.
Prosniewski said the protester, from Lancaster, Penn., claimed his First Amendment rights were being violated, and that he caused another scene in the courtroom even though the police were willing to drop the charges if $100 court costs were paid.
The fireworks display, new this year, made it much easier for police to disperse the crowd. Prosniewski said people gravitated to the North River area as soon as the fireworks began, and only a minimal amount of herding - with the help of Boston mounted police - was needed.