3 Arrested In Braintree Manhunt, Plymouth Shooting Suspect Caught

BRAINTREE, MA — State Police arrested three men in Braintree, following a manhunt in the Weymouth Landing area Tuesday. Police said one of the men is a suspect connected to a shooting outside a Plymouth apartment complex last month.

State Police identified the suspects as Dennis Ortiz, 25, of Dorchester, Matthew Gardener, 25, of Boston, and Melik Harrison, 20, of Plymouth. Harrison was the suspect connected to the Plymouth shooting, according to police.

Around 2 p.m. Tuesday, State Police were following a car on Route 3 they said Harrison was driving. State Police followed the men off Route 3 into Braintree.

Then, the suspects abandoned the car in the 100th block of Allen Street and ran away, witnesses told police. Police said the suspects all ran toward the Weymouth Landing area. State Police used K-9 units and helicopters to sweep the area and said they found the men hiding under a railroad bridge around 3:40 p.m.

The Greenbush MBTA Commuter Rail line was shutdown while police searched the tracks and made the arrest. Braintree High School and several other public schools in the area were placed on lockdown.

All three men were charged with trespassing on a railroad track. State Police said they will be arraigned Wednesday in Quincy District Court and more charges are expected.

State Police said Harrison had several outstanding warrants. Warrant charges included assault and battery on a family member over 60, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm with a license, carrying ammunition without a firearms identification card, disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace, distribution and possession of a class B substance and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license.

The shooting Harrison is believed to be connected to happened Oct. 16 at the Algonquin Heights housing complex in Plymouth. Plymouth Police Chief Michael Botieri said the shooting started after a confrontation between two rival groups.