Worcester, MA (January 29, 2012) - On Friday January 27, 2012 at approximately 8:25 PM an off duty Worcester Police officer, working a private detail for Plumley Village, called out for assistance reporting a shooting. The shooting occurred in the hallway of 10 Everett Gaylord Blvd. Just prior to the shooting this officer was alerted to a fight between two males in the hallway of 10 Everett Gaylord Blvd. As the officer was nearing the apartment he observed two males exiting the hallway of the apartment building fighting. The males went back into the hallway when the officer heard one shot ring out. The officer then observed a male run from the hallway and enters a motor vehicle. The vehicle quickly drove off. The officer stopped the vehicle at gunpoint. When the vehicle came to a stop the passenger inside opened his door and yelled out that he had been shot. The male then fell to the ground.

The victim is a 22 year old male from Dorchester. He was transported to U-Mass Hospital (university campus) and was treated for a single gunshot wound to his left wrist. The male is in stable condition.

Officers responding to the call for assistance approached the driver of the vehicle. He was identified as Mark Leaston, 25 years old of 45 Kingsdale Street, Dorchester. Mr. Leaston was discovered to have no valid license to operate his motor vehicle. Leaston was also in possession of marijuana; he was placed under arrest and charged with Possession of Class D with the Intent to Distribute and Operating a Motor Vehicle without a License. He was transported to police headquarters and questioned about the shooting incident. At this time the victim and Mr. Leaston are uncooperative with regard to the events leading up to the shooting.

The Worcester Police Detective Bureau is currently working on this incident. Investigators are working on identifying a male suspect that witnesses report seen running from the hallway shortly after the shooting. If anyone has information about this incident they can send an anonymous text to 274637 TIPWPD + your message or send an anonymous web based message at worcesterma.gov/police. Calls can also be made to the Worcester Police Detective Bureau at (508) 799-8651.

Mr. Leaston will be arraigned at the Worcester County District Courthouse on Monday, January 30, 2012.

There will be no new additional information released at this time.