Police Apprehend Armed Car Suspects After Chase Through Medford

A state police helicopter and police dogs searched a normally quiet neighborhood in West Somerville Monday night for suspects, at least one of them armed, that had led police on a car chase that went through part of Medford.

Police in the area around Powder House Boulevard and Leonard Street—right next to the Tufts University campus—had three suspects in custody as of about 11 p.m., and Somerville, Medford, Boston and state police were still searching the neighborhood for a possible fourth suspect.

Police also discovered one handgun, according to Deputy Chief Paul Upton of the Somerville Police Department.

Police arrested Avis Medrano, 23, of 9 Carney Court., Charlestown, and Alexis Gonzalez, 20, of 33 Carney Court, Charlestown and a 15-year-old male from Charlestown, according to a Somerville police report.

The report says a fourth suspect remained at large and Upton said police are "continuing to investigate" information about the fourth suspect.

Upton said police initially responded to a report of shots fired on Gilman Street, near McGrath Highway in East Somerville, at around 9:08 p.m.

The shots fired were associated with a white motor vehicle, and moments later a police unit spotted a car—a white Subaru Legacy—that matched the description, Upton said.

When police tried to stop the car, it led police on a pursuit through Somerville, onto Boston Avenue in Medford, and back into Somerville, according to the deputy chief.

The suspects bailed in the West Somerville neighborhood, blocks from the Powder House Rotary, and led police on a foot chase and subsequent manhunt.

"This was a terrific joint effort," Upton said of the cooperation between Somerville, Medford and state police that resulted in the apprehension of the three suspects and firearm.

During the search, a state police helicopter hovered over the neighborhood, shining a bright searchlight into back yards as police K9s and state troopers with shotguns searched from property to property looking for the suspects.

Upton said people in the neighborhood were not in danger. That said, at 10:48 p.m. the city's official Twitter account asked people to stay indoors. The Tweet read: "Police pursuit of possibly armed suspect in W. #Somerville Tufts/Powderhouse area is under way. If in the area, please stay inside."

Although police were searching for a possible fourth suspect, the city Tweeted at 11:22 p.m., "All suspects have been apprehended in #Somerville. State Police to remain in area for final sweeps."

See our original report here.

[Follow Medford Patch on Twitter , like us on Facebook  and sign up for our Daily Newsletter and Breaking News alerts. ]