CNNfyi.com - 7 killed in office shooting near Boston; suspect in custody
Olivia Shea
Published Apr 12, 2026
7 killed in office shooting near Boston; suspect in custody
December 26, 2000
Web posted at: 3:14 PM EST (2014 GMT)
Staff and wire reports
| Members of a SWAT team arrive at the scene where seven people reportedly died in a shooting | |
WAKEFIELD, Massachusetts (CNN) -- A heavily armed employee of Edgewater Technology Inc. was arrested Tuesday and charged with killing seven co-workers, said John McEvoy, the Middlesex County assistant district attorney.
The man was identified as employee Michael McDermott, 42. McEvoy said he plans to charge McDermott with seven counts of murder.
McEvoy said that McDermott was armed with three weapons -- an AK47 assault rifle, a shotgun, and a semi-automatic handgun. McEvoy would not go into a possible motive except to say that it was work related.
The shooting took place at a building on Foundry Street known as Harvard Mills. Edgewater Technology is an Internet consulting firm. The company has its headquarters in Wakefield and offices in Alabama, Arkansas, Minnesota and New Hampshire, according to its Web site.
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McDermott was sitting in the lobby when law enforcement officers arrived. He was armed and had to be subdued, McEvoy said.
McEvoy would not comment on the victims pending notification of their families. There were no additional injuries other than the seven victims, who all died from apparent gunshot wounds, he said.
McEvoy estimated 50 to 70 people were working in the building at the time of the shooting.
Nancy Pecjo, a developer with the company, said she did not know who had been shot.
"It's a great company, a wonderful company," she said, adding that she didn't know of anyone who'd been fired recently or was disgruntled.
"It's a small company, you get to know everybody there," she said. "When something like this happens it's very distressing."
Three ambulances were parked outside the Harvard Mills office complex, a three-story, red brick former factory that houses several companies.
Darren Emery, the owner of North Shore Pools, across the street said a number of office workers ran into his store saying the man had opened fire.
The workers were evacuated to St. Joseph's church which is located nearby.
The owner of a garage located on the same street said he had noticed police activity in the area.
"There's been a helicopter hovering overhead for about the past half-hour," said Miles Moran, owner of the Foundry Street Garage.
Wakefield is about 10 miles outside Boston.
