Witnesses speak about Woburn shooting

WOBURN, Mass. -- Witnesses who were nearby said they heard a number of rounds being fired when a Woburn police officer was shot and wounded during an attempted jewelry store robbery on Tuesday.

Some witnesses ran to the scene to see what they could do to help, others took cover.

“Popping noise, one two, then a series of six or seven,” said Brian O’Rourke.

O’Rourke owns the gas station across the street from Musto Jewelers in Woburn. He said he saw Officer Robert Denapoli slumped over, sitting on the ground with officers surrounding him. He said he did get a decent look at the shooter.

“I was just trying to keep a safe distance, trying to keep my eye on the guy -- figured he was up to no good, running away like that,” said O’Rourke.

“I saw the suspect run across the street, at which point he almost got hit by a car. From there he opened fire and you know, I went behind the pillars because, you know, somebody is shooting,” said Mike McDonough, who also works at the gas station.

McDonough said people were chasing the suspect. He said the suspect wasn’t just shooting randomly -- he was aiming.

“There was bushes right there and he was just pointed back -- he was shooting,” said McDonough.

Both O’Rourke and McDonough said the suspect was running in between cars at the dealership across the street. The suspect eventually disappeared into a nearby neighborhood.

“You know gunshots when you hear them,” said McDonough. “And from there I ran across towards the building to see if my fiancée was alright, she works in the building.”

McDonough said his fiancée works below Musto Jewelers at Boston King Coffee. He said she was just fine. The entire complex remained under lockdown on Tuesday afternoon.

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