Salem Man Seen Carrying Rifle Believed To Have Had BB Gun: Police

SALEM, MA — A man who was seen running into the woods behind Walmart with a rifle Sunday morning was carrying a BB gun, Salem police said they believe.

Police said the report of a man with a rifle came in shortly before 11 a.m. A witness said the windows of a backhoe loader behind the Highland Avenue store were shattered.

Police said an investigation with Lynn and Peabody police, as well as the North Eastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council, found evidence that an air rifle was likely used to shatter the glass with BBs.

Police said there were no threats made to the public or the witness.

Police are looking for a dark-skinned man who is about 6 feet tall and was seen wearing a gray sweatshirt in connection with the incident.

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call the Salem Police Criminal Investigations Division at 978-745-9700 or the anonymous tip line at 978-619-5627.