Man dead after shooting, attempted carjacking on I-190 in Worcester

WORCESTER — A man who shot at police and attempted to carjack motorists on I-190 in Worcester Wednesday afternoon is dead after shooting himself, police said.

Both directions of I-190 were closed for nearly four hours after police pursued the man suspected in an earlier fatal shooting in a nearby neighborhood.

Police responded to a home on Heroult Street around 2:20 p.m. and found a man suffering from gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.

A short time later, a Massachusetts State Police trooper approached a man who was acting suspiciously. Police said the man pulled out a gun, fired a round and then fled.

Gunman tried to attack drivers on the highway

Police were then dispatched to northbound I-190 for a report of an armed man stopping traffic, pointing a gun at motorists and attempting to carjack them.

“In response to the man's imminent threat, a Worcester police officer and a Massachusetts State Trooper discharged their firearms during the incident,” Worcester police said. “The person being pursued turned his gun on himself and shot himself.”

The man was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead. His identity has not been released.

Police said the man in the highway incident is believed to be the suspect in the Heroult Street shooting and there is no danger to the public.

The highway was closed near Exit 2 and reopened around 7:40 p.m. Shocked neighbors arrived at an overpass and saw investigators searching the closed highway for clues. They wondered what had led to the chaos.

“It’s very scary, it’s surreal,” Cedric Saysay said. “I have lived in Worcester for about 40 years, went to school here, live here and work here. This is the first time I’ve seen something like this on this highway.”

Police asked anyone with video or information about the incident to call Worcester police.