The Worcester Police Department issued a request to the public Thursday for information regarding a fatal shooting on Highland Street in Worcester.
The department asked for anyone who was in the area of the shooting, which took place in the area of the Honey Farms located at 101 Highland Street, to contact the detective bureau. The department also requested anyone with video footage of the incident to share the footage.
Police issued a release Wednesday that said, around 8:23 a.m. that morning, an officer came across a shooting victim in the area of the 101 Highland St. Honey Farms. The officer called out for assistance over the radio and rendered aid to the 31-year-old male victim, the Worcester Police Department said.
Westborough man Samuel Peckham was arrested at the scene, police said. Peckham, who turned 28 years old on Tuesday, was later arraigned in Worcester District Court Wednesday afternoon on charges of armed assault to murder and assault and battery with a firearm. A not guilty plea was entered on his behalf.
The victim, who is identified in court records as 31-year-old John Smith, was brought to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Following Peckham’s arrest, the Westborough man told investigators that Smith punched Peckham’s driver’s side window and broke it during a verbal altercation between the two men, court documents showed.
Peckham had a semi-automatic gun in his possession and raised it and shot one round at Smith in his chest, court records said.
Peckham has an active license to carry firearms in Massachusetts, police said. He was ordered held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing scheduled for Jan. 10.
Police asked the public to contact the detective bureau at 508-799-8651 or to send an anonymous text to 274637 TIPWPD or worcesterma.gov/police.
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