A heavy police presence was seen near the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) campus in Cambridge after reports of an active shooter along Memorial Drive Monday afternoon.
According to Cambridge Police, officers responded to reports of shots fired near River Street around 1:30 p.m. Multiple law enforcement agencies, including Massachusetts State Police, rushed to the scene as videos circulating online showed a man carrying a rifle near moving traffic.
Witnesses said dozens of shots were fired during the incident, with some saying the suspect appeared to be shooting randomly near the road before police returned fire.
“A guy holding a gun…I ran. He just started shooting out of nowhere,” a witness identified as Dennis Rodriguez told local media.
Videos from the scene showed police vehicles blocking roads while ambulances and emergency crews surrounded parts of Memorial Drive.
Helicopters were also seen flying over the area during the operation.
Massachusetts State Police later confirmed troopers were involved in the shooting.
Authorities said there was no ongoing threat to the public; however, residents were advised to avoid the area while the investigation continued.
Gov. Maura Healey said she was closely monitoring the situation and thanked first responders for making the scene safe.
The identities of those involved and the motive for the shooting have not yet been officially released.
