One man was killed and two other people were injured early Saturday morning in Lowell, Massachusetts.
Lowell police responded around 4:53 a.m. to reports of a shooting in the parking lot of a Hindu temple located on Middlesex Street, and found three victims with apparent gunshot wounds, according to Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Lowell Police Superintendent Greg Hudon.
Two people were taken to a local hospital, where a 43-year-old Lowell man was pronounced dead, authorities said. The other victim, a 34-year-old man, remains hospitalized.
A 26-year-old woman suffered minor injuries in the shooting, and she took herself to the hospital.
According to a preliminary investigation, a group was gathered in the parking lot when a physical altercation occurred prior to the shooting.
There is no information at this time that the gathering was at all related to the temple, authorities said. It did, however, interrupt a religious celebration taking place all weekend.
The entire parking lot was taped off as authorities focused their investigation on several cars, alcohol bottles and a pile of clothes left behind.
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Investigators spent hours taking photos and placing evidence markers on the ground, as dozens of people arrived for a three-day religious celebration being held at the temple for people from a specific village in India.
About a thousand were expected to come out this weekend for the festivities. Police ended up redirecting them around the crime scene so they could proceed with their program.
"There might be a delay but the event will go on," Ravi Patel said. "It’s an all day event. There will be dances, performances, prayers, everything."
No arrests have been made in this case, and the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to call Lowell police at 978-937-3200.
