Arrest Made in South Shore Plaza Shooting Investigation

Originally published Feb. 4, 2017

BRAINTERE, MA — A 23-year-old was taken into custody early Saturday morning in connection to a shooting at the South Shore Plaza.

Michael J Spence Jr. was arrested in Quincy without incident and charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, and discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building in use. There was also a probation detainer/warrant on Spence, according to the Braintree Police Department.

At about 7 p.m. Friday night, police responded to a report of gunfire at the mall. Police say the altercation was an isolated incident between two "Boston gang affiliates" that resulted in at least one of them opening fire after bumping into each other at the Macy's shoe department. Both fled the mall and no injuries were reported.

• South Shore Plaza Shooting: Gunfire in Macy's Shoe Department

Braintree Police Chief Paul Shastany said a gun and shell casings were found on the scene and that three SWAT teams were called in to assist.

The mall was placed on lockdown and officers escorted shoppers and employees to safety. Roughly 200 stores were thoroughly searched by officers in order to identify witnesses and assist people with the lockdown. The majority of people in the mall left during the initial stages of the incident; however, law enforcement personnel assisted hundreds of others with evacuations for several hours after the initial report, police said

The investigation remains open and ongoing with preliminary findings indicating this most likely was not a random act, but a targeted act where the parties are familiar to one another.

Mike Carraggi contributed to this report.

Image via Braintree Police Department