Jerome St. Shooting Victim was Robbed Months Prior

A previous robbery may have been a factor in the double shooting on Jerome Street that killed one man and left his father badly injured on Feb. 18, Police Chief Leo Sacco said.

John Vieira and his son, John Hatch, were both . Hatch died from the wounds; Vieira was rushed to Lawrence Memorial Hospital and is expected to recover.

Vieira was the victim of a robbery while staying at a home on Water Street about three months earlier, Sacco said during a meeting with city councilors on Tuesday.

"Is there a connection between the two incidents?" Sacco said. "Very possible."

The investigation has not made any major breakthroughs.

"Hopefully DNA will help us solve (the) matter," Sacco said. "But at this point it's pretty strictly an evidentiary case."

Vieira's wife made the 9-1-1 call on the night of the shooting, Sacco said. Dispatchers instructed her through procedures that may have saved her husband's life.

"He’s lucky to be alive," Sacco said. "His son is not so lucky."

The home at 55 Jerome Street has a history with Medford Police dating back about 30 years, though Viera and Hatch's history there only goes back about 6 months, Sacco said.

Hatch had a daughter and fifteen brothers and sisters, according to his obituary.