4 Charged After Pellet Gun Shooting At Tewksbury-Billerica Game

TEWKSBURY, MA — Four Billerica residents aged 16 to 18 were arrested and charged with assault and battery after a pellet gun shooting following a Tewksbury-Billerica basketball game Thursday, Tewksbury police said Friday.

Some Tewksbury students were injured. They were not seriously injured, Tewksbury Superintendent Christopher Malone said in a letter to the community.

Tewksbury police arrested Allane Sonny Takock, 18 of Billerica, two Billerica 16-year-olds and one Billerica 17-year-old, Chief Ryan Columbus said in a news release. All four were charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

Tewksbury police were sent to Tewksbury Memorial High School around 8:10 p.m. Thursday for a report of people being shot at with a pellet gun.

Investigators learned that the four suspects, driving by in two cars, shot pellet guns at a crowd of people leaving the game, Columbus said.

Seven people were shot, Columbus said. According to statements from school officials, they included several Tewksbury students.

The people shot were evaluated by the Tewksbury Fire Department but declined to go to the hospital.

The seven individuals that were shot were evaluated on scene by the Tewksbury Fire Department, but declined to be transported to the hospital. The Tewksbury students were also seen by a nurse at school Friday morning, Tewksbury Memorial High Principal Jon Bernard said. No further information was available about the extent of the injuries.

Billerica police helped Tewksbury police find four people "matching the suspects' description," Columbus said. The four were arrested without incident.

The weapons used were gel blasters, according to the news release.

Takock was expected to be arraigned in Lowell District Court Friday. The three juveniles were expected to be arraigned in Lowell Juvenile Court Friday.

Police are still investigating. All people are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

"Since last night, I have been in constant contact with the Billerica

Superintendent," the Tewksbury superintendent said. "A meeting took place this morning between the TMHS and Billerica Memorial High School Administration to ensure we all work together moving forward, to include student leaders from both schools, with the goal of coming together to promote a positive relationship."

Due to the incident, Billerica students will not be allowed to attend the school's hockey game Saturday versus Tewksbury at the Breakaway Ice Center, Billerica Memorial High School Principal Thomas Murphy said.

"We are extremely disappointed by the actions of some of our students, and this is not reflective of our core values," Murphy said. "We are committed to working with the Tewksbury Memorial High School community to repair the relationship between our schools."

Due to student confidentiality protections, Billerica Public Schools will not share information publicly on disciplinary measures, Billerica Superintendent Timothy Piwowar said.

"It is important that the Tewksbury Public Schools’ community join us in collaborating with Billerica Public Schools to find ways to stop these types of incidents and utilize this as a learning opportunity for both communities," Superintendent Malone said. "I am extremely confident that the Billerica Administration takes this situation very seriously and will work with us to ensure the safety of all students at athletic or other events in the future."