Shooting Spree, Double Murder: Salem Mayor Responds To Rash Of Violence In Witch City

SALEM, MA — An early morning shooting spree involving 66 shell casings found and two dead bodies discovered in the woods near a shopping center prompted Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo to issue a statement on Thursday calling the rash of violence "unacceptable."

A 30-year-old man was charged with two counts of murder after two bodies were found in the woods near the Salem Walmart on Wednesday afternoon. Jay Blodget, 30, appeared in Salem District Court on Thursday, where prosecutors said the victims were beaten and stabbed.

Blodget was held without bail until a probable cause hearing set for May 28.

Salem Police Chief Lucas Miller said the killings are believed to be "an isolated incident."

Three teens are facing charges from a separate shooting on Albion Street last week that left cars, signs, buildings and other structures strewn with bullets despite no reports of injuries.

• 3 Men Charged, Guns Seized In Salem Shooting Spree

"While both instances were acts of violence perpetrated between parties known to one another, they nevertheless are understandable causes for concern by all who call Salem home," Pangallo said on Thursday afternoon. "Innocent bystanders can easily be the victims of indiscriminate shootings or violence, even when they are targeted intentionally at others.

"The city of Salem regards the safety of the public as our utmost priority."

• 'Gunplay On The Streets Of Salem': Early Morning Shots Fired In The Witch City

Pangallo praised the work of investigators in quickly bringing charges against those accused of the crimes and said that it should make residents confident in the city's public safety departments.

"We will continue working in collaboration internally and with other agencies to put in place measures that can help reduce the probability of such acts of violence and that, when such acts do occur, ensure those responsible for them are swiftly held accountable," Pangallo said. "Acts of criminal violence such as we have seen recently on Albion Street and in the woods near Cain Hill are unacceptable and the City of Salem, through not just our Police Department, but all municipal departments, considers the safety and well-being of all community members to be of the highest importance."

Salem police said near dawn on Friday, search warrants and arrest warrants were executed in Dorchester, Somerville and Quincy, with three men charged with attempted murder and two guns seized.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza)