Worcester Police Deparment
UPDATE: Arrest Made in Connection with Institute Park Shooting
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 9/12/2023 9:17 pm
UPDATE:
On the afternoon of September 12th 2023, Worcester Police officers, Massachusetts State Troopers assigned to the Violent Fugitive Apprehension Squad, MSP K9 officers, and US Marshals were looking for Omar Molina. There was an active warrant for the arrest of Mr. Molina, who was wanted in connection with the shooting that occurred on August 27th near Institute Park.
Officers received information that Mr. Molina was in Holden. Officers located him in the rear of a Holden address and placed him under arrest. His warrants are for several serious violent and firearms offenses, including Armed Assault with Intent to Murder, Carrying a Loaded Firearm without an LTC (2nd or subsequent offense), and Discharging a Firearm within 500’ of a Dwelling. He will be arraigned in court.
ORIGINAL PRESS RELEASE:
On August 27th 2023 at about 6 PM, officers assigned to the Caribbean Festival at Institute Park heard gunshots from the area of Salisbury and Boynton St. This caused a chaotic scene in which the large crowd was attempting to run to safety. Officers located a fifteen-year-old shooting victim and a twenty-three-year-old shooting victim and assisted both medically until they were both transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The crowd dispersed and the follow-up investigation began.
The initial investigation revealed that gunfire was exchanged on Boynton St near the intersection on Salisbury St. Both shooting victims appear to be innocent bystanders who were unrelated to the dispute and were not intentionally targeted.
This investigation is ongoing. If you have information about this incident, please 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.