Police arrest ‘armed and dangerous’ man, 22, after his mom is found shot dead at her Massachusetts home
Police in Massachusetts have apprehended an “armed and dangerous” man they believe may be connected to the shooting death of his mother.
Ryan Hanafin, 22, was taken into custody by Vermont State Police in connection with the shooting death of his mother, Adria Hanafin, 49, according to Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan.
Ryan said police were called to the home on Thursday around 12:38 a.m. The caller reportedly told dispatchers that he found his wife dead inside the kitchen at their house in Reading. The couple’s 13-year-old son was home but was unharmed. The couple’s older son, who police identified as Ryan Hanafin, also lives at the home, but was not present when they arrived.
Prior to his arrest, Ryan urged residents of Reading, Massachusetts, and the surrounding area to use “extreme caution” if they encounter Hanafin, according to The Boston Globe.
“There is no further risk to public safety. More information to follow regarding apprehension and any court appearances,” she said following Hanafin’s arrest.
She said that Hanafin had a license to carry a weapon, which was suspended on Thursday morning. Initial reports do not make clear if Hanafin was armed when he was taken into custody.
Police said they believe a dispute of some kind may have occurred between Hanafin and the victim that led to the shooting, though details of that potential conflict have not been made public.
“It’s shocking. It’s tragic. It’s alleged domestic violence at this point, although not the traditional domestic violence situation that we think of,” Ryan said in a statement.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is conducting an autopsy on Adriana Hanafin, but the cause of death is believed to be a gunshot wound, according to NBC News.
“We have two children now that have lost their mother. We have another child who’s at least a person of interest at this point,” Ryan said. “So this is, first and foremost, a terrible tragedy.”
