LOWELL — Police announced they are on the lookout for a 19-year-old Lowell man who they identified as the suspected gunman in a Back Central shooting that occurred earlier this month.
Police said an arrest warrant has been issued for Tiago Bettencourt for the charges of armed assault with intent to murder, carrying a firearm without a license, possession of ammunition, and discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building.
Police consider Bettencourt armed and dangerous.
Shortly before 4 p.m. May 13, police were called to Richmond Avenue for reports of a person who had been shot. Upon arrival, police said they found a man suffering from gunshot wounds.
Shortly after the shooting occurred, a neighborhood resident told The Sun he had witnessed a group of people arguing on Richmond Avenue, followed by the sound of a single gunshot. The witness recalled seeing several people fleeing on foot down Richmond Avenue toward Abbott Street, while others worked to help the injured man.
“I came over and called 911, and he was lying there,” the witness said. “The individuals were already putting pressure on (the wound), but there was blood all over the place.”
According to police, the man was transported to a local hospital before being flown by medical helicopter to a Boston-area hospital for further treatment.
Lowell Police Deputy Superintendent Mark LeBlanc revealed on Tuesday that the alleged victim has since been released from the hospital. His identity was not revealed.
Detectives assigned to the department’s Criminal Investigations Bureau conducted an investigation into the shooting and identified Bettencourt as the alleged gunman.
Anyone with information about Bettencourt is asked to contact the Lowell Police Department at 978-937-3200.
Follow Aaron Curtis on Twitter @aselahcurtis