Armed civilian, trooper stop Cambridge active shooter on Memorial Drive

Outrage erupted online following a chaotic police-involved shooting in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on Monday, with critics pointing to the alleged shooter’s criminal history after authorities said he opened fire along a busy road.

Video shared by FOX 25 Boston appears to show the suspect, identified by Middlesex County Prosecutor Marian T. Ryan as Tyler Brown, walking down the street while shooting as cars drove by, prompting a strong response from law enforcement.

The outlet reported that the video shows the suspect being shot, although the portion of the footage shared did not include that moment.

Massachusetts State Police said officers responded around 1:20 p.m. to a shooting involving law enforcement in the area of ​​Memorial Drive and River Street.

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Law enforcement officers secure a scene near Memorial Drive in Cambridge, Massachusetts, following a police-involved shooting on Monday, May 11, 2026. (Credit: WFXT)

“EMS responded to the scene to treat at least one person with a gunshot wound,” the agency said, adding that no additional details on the circumstances were immediately available.

The Cambridge Police Department (CPD) said officers were called shortly after 1:30 p.m. for reports of shots fired in the same area, noting there was no ongoing danger to the public.

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Police vehicles and officers closed a road near Memorial Drive in Cambridge, Massachusetts following a police-involved shooting on Monday, May 11, 2026. (Credit: WFXT)

“CPD and State Police are on scene, but there is no ongoing danger to the public,” the department said in a statement, asking residents to avoid the area.

Ryan said the incident began after Boston police alerted authorities about a man acting erratically and believed to be armed with a rifle.

By the time officers arrived, the situation had escalated into what authorities described as an active shooter incident, with the suspect walking in the middle of Memorial Drive and shooting erratically as traffic stopped.

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“During this operation, two men in separate vehicles were struck by gunfire,” Ryan said.

Authorities said a Massachusetts State Police trooper and an armed civilian — described as a former Marine licensed to carry — confronted the suspect as people fled their vehicles and sought cover.

The trooper and civilian fired their weapons, striking Brown several times in the extremities, Ryan said. Brown was treated at the scene and transported to a Boston hospital, where he remains in custody.

The two victims who were shot while inside their vehicle were also transported to Boston hospitals where their lives are in danger, officials said.

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Ryan said a “very high number of shots – in the range of 50 to 60 – were fired in a very short period of time” during the incident.

Brown is expected to face several charges, including two counts of assault with a weapon with intent to kill, as well as weapons offenses.

Boston 25 News reported that Brown has a criminal history spanning nearly two decades, citing court records linked to a man with the same name and date of birth, which include prior gun and drug convictions. The outlet reported that in 2020, Brown shot multiple times at Boston police officers while already on probation in a separate case.

The report said prosecutors at the time sought a much longer sentence, but a judge imposed a shorter sentence, drawing criticism from the prosecutor’s office.

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Reaction to Brown’s reported criminal history quickly spread online, with Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy writing on social media that “the judge who let this guy get off easy should go to jail.”

Republican candidate for Massachusetts governor Mike Minogue spoke out on the shootings, pledging to push to ensure repeat offenders like Brown do not receive lenient sentences or parole.

“The governor’s fundamental role is to uphold the law and keep our communities safe. When our criminal justice system throws common sense out the window and allows dangerous and violent people to get out of prison quickly or early, it means innocent mothers, fathers and children can be killed,” Minogue said in a statement. “I am grateful to the officers who stopped today’s attack and saved lives.”

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey reiterated in an article on X that there was no ongoing threat to the public following the shooting.

“I am closely monitoring the situation on Memorial Drive. @MassStatePolice are on scene and working alongside local law enforcement to investigate. There is no ongoing threat to the public,” she wrote. “However, residents and commuters are strongly encouraged to avoid the area to allow public safety personnel to do their jobs. We are grateful to the first responders who worked quickly to keep people safe and secure the scene. »

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