Swampscott Man Faces Elderly Assault, Gun Charges In Salem Walmart Parking Lot Attack

SALEM, MA — A Swampscott man is facing charges of assault against an elderly man and a disabled man and a gun charge after Salem police said he was accused of pushing the two men while he had a gun in his waistband during a November confrontation in the Walmart parking lot on Highland Avenue.

Salem police said Peter Flynn, 61, was accused of confronting the two men, one of whom was stopped in his car waiting for a handicapped parking spot, in the lot on the afternoon of Nov. 15. Police said Flynn was accused of pushing both men with one falling to the ground.

WHDH-TV reported that Flynn is a former Suffolk County Sheriff's Department jail officer.

Police told Patch that Flynn was charged with aggravated assault and battery on an elderly person, aggravated assault and battery on a disabled person, assault with a dangerous weapon, and one additional count of assault.

A Salem police spokesperson told Patch on Tuesday that the police report indicated video surveillance footage appeared to back up the victims' reports that Flynn had a gun in his waistband when he was engaging them. Police said one of the victims reported feeling threatened when the gun was exposed to him.

The spokesperson said that cell phone footage of the incident was also collected and placed into evidence. The spokesperson said the gun appeared to be legally registered.

WHDH-TV reported that the case is due back in Salem District Court in March.