Cambridge Homeless Man Shot While Sleeping: Police

CAMBRIDGE, MA — Early Wednesday morning a homeless man was reportedly shot with a pellet gun while he was sleeping in front of the library. Police are now on the lookout for any information about who may have done that.

At approximately 12:50 a.m., officers responded to the area of the Pearl Street bus stop after reports of a man suffering from possible injuries.

The man – who is a 36-year-old homeless individual in Cambridge – reported that he was sleeping in front of the Central Square Library when he was awoken by a young man described as black, in his early 20s, wearing all black clothing and a baseball cap. Multiple shots from what is believed to be a pellet gun were then fired by the man, striking the homeless man in the stomach and arm.

Police say his injuries are not considered life-threatening.

The shooter reportedly fled down Pearl Street towards the Charles River. Officers searched the area, but were unable to locate a possible suspect. They did recover pellets from in front of the library. An investigation, including pulling area surveillance video, into this incident is ongoing, police said.

This comes as the number of shooting incidents in the city edges into the double digits.

File photo by Jenna Fisher/Patch