Beverly Man Charged With Armed Assault and Intent to Murder

Gloucester Police arrested a 57-year-old Beverly man on Saturday in connection with a early morning shooting.

The gunshot victim, had kicked the Beverly man out of the Gloucester bar/restaurant late Friday night. A short time, the Beverly man returned and allegedly shot the bouncer in the leg.

Police responded to the area of St. Peter’s Square on Rogers Street, Gloucester, shortly after midnight for a report of someone who had been shot.

Police found the 29-year-old man, who had been shot at least one time in the leg area. He was transported to Beverly Hospital with injuries that are not considered life-threatening, according to Gloucester Police Chief Leonard Campanello. The gunshot victim’s name will not being released, according to authorities.

Police were given a partial plate for the suspect’s vehicle, and a description of a silver Mercedes-Benz.

Gloucester Police notified area law enforcement agencies to be on the lookout for such a vehicle. A short time later, an Essex County Sheriff’s deputy, working a snow removal detail, radioed that he was in pursuit of a vehicle that matched the description given over the radio.

Multiple Gloucester Police units responded, and the vehicle was stopped.

James Hewson, 57, of Beverly was arrested and charged with armed assault with the intent to murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and discharging a firearm within 500-feet of a building.

“Well-established partnerships with our fellow law enforcement agencies, combined with a quick response and aggressive investigation by Gloucester Police officers resulted in the arrest of a dangerous felon this morning,” Chief Campanello said in a news release. “I would like to thank the Essex Sheriff’s Department for their deputy’s assistance this morning. This was a dangerous situation, handled professionally all around.”

Hewson was held on $500,000 bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Monday in Gloucester District Court. Troopers assigned to Essex district attorney’s office also responded to the scene.

These are allegations. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty.

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