DRACUT, MASS. (WHDH) - A Dracut man is facing an assault with intent to murder charge after police say he shot another man during an argument outside of a Methuen McDonald’s on Friday night, officials said.
Troopers, assisted by Dracut and Lowell police, arrested Rodney Villar, 29, at his home without incident about an hour after Methuen police announced that they were looking for an “armed and dangerous” suspect in connection with the shooting in the parking lot of the Haverhill Street fast-food restaurant, state police said.
Police say they were able to track Villar through the registration of the 2018 Toyota Highlander SUV that he allegedly fled the shooting in. The vehicle was found parked outside of his house.
Methuen Police Capt. Jim Jajuga said the incident could have been much worse.
“The only positive on this was that right now we don’t have any innocent bystanders that were struck,” he said. “But that’s the danger when people pull firearms and shoot in parking lots like this. It’s just extremely alarming to us as a department, as a city.”
The victim was taken to the hospital with serious injuries, then airlifted to Boston. His condition was not immediately released.
The shooting is under investigation by Methuen Police, the State Police Detective Unit for Essex County, the State Police Crime Scene Services Section, and the State Police Ballistics Unit.
This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.
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