Gunman With Assault Rifle Opens Fire on Drivers Near Boston, Injuring Two

A heavily armed gunman opened fire on motorists along a busy roadway near Boston, injuring two people and triggering scenes of panic before he was shot and taken into custody by authorities.

The incident unfolded on Memorial Drive in Cambridge, where officials say the suspect, identified as 46-year-old Tyler Brown, walked into traffic carrying an assault-style rifle and began firing randomly at passing vehicles. Authorities said more than 50 rounds were fired during the attack, damaging numerous cars and leaving two drivers with life-threatening injuries.

According to investigators, terrified motorists abandoned their vehicles and scrambled for cover as gunfire erupted along the roadway near the campuses of Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Witness videos circulating online showed the suspect firing repeatedly while walking down the middle of the street.

Authorities said the gunman was eventually stopped after a Massachusetts state trooper and an armed civilian, described in reports as a former Marine, returned fire. Brown was wounded and transported to a hospital under police custody.

Investigators revealed that Brown had a prior criminal history, including a previous conviction related to a shooting involving police officers in 2020. Reports also indicated that law enforcement had been searching for him earlier in the day after concerns were raised about his behavior and possible mental health crisis.

Officials said there is no indication the victims were specifically targeted, and authorities continue to investigate the motive behind the attack. The shooting has renewed debate in the United States over gun violence, public safety, and how repeat violent offenders are monitored after release.