LAWRENCE, MASS. (WHDH) - Authorities have identified the Lawrence Department of Public Works employee who was fatally shot while performing road work on Wednesday afternoon.
Officers responding to a report of a shooting in the area of Andover Street around 2 p.m. found Marcos A. Ruiz-Rodriguez, 52, of Methuen, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds, Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett and Lawrence Police Chief Roy Vasque announced in a joint press release.
Ruiz-Rodriguez was taken to Lawrence General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
He was a long-time employee of the city’s public works department, Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera said.
“The city of Lawrence lost a great employee Marcos A. Ruiz-Rodriguez, who had been employed by the City for many years. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. We will be reaching out to the family to let them know we are here for them and to support them through this tough time,” Rivera said in a statement.
Rivera went on to say, “These are some of the hardest-working city employees who oftentimes do some thankless work – pushing snow, picking up trash, picking up needles. To see a fellow employee, die in this manner is unsettling, to say the least. We want to put our arms around them, make sure they are safe, supported and loved and so they know they are not alone.”
Ruiz-Rodriguez leaves behind two grown children, according to family members.
A GoFundMe has been set up in his name.
Investigators do not believe Ruiz-Rodriguez was the intended target of the shooting.
The incident remains under investigation.
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