Brandon Sicard Arrested In Connection With Shooting On Newbury Street
BOSTON (CBS) - Boston Police have arrested 29-year-old Brandon Sicard in connection with a shooting that shook the Back Bay area Wednesday night and sent customers in restaurants and shops on Newbury and Boylston Streets running for cover.
Jon Boelman, who works at a nearby clothing store, said it was a sight he couldn't believe. "At first I thought it was a car backfiring, but I looked outside the window and saw a gentleman in a white track suit literally shooting shots down the street," he said.
He believes the gunman was firing at a vehicle that took off, but the bullets were flying hitting store windows and some car windows and then chaos. "We saw people panicking, running into restaurants, ducking to the ground for cover," said Boelman.
Claudiane Phillipe was among them, dining with some friends on a patio nearby. "There had to be at least 20 shots in succession, and we had no idea if people were being shot at, or what was being shot at," she said.
They ran for it, making their way through a side door at the Prudential Center, and guided to a bathroom by some restaurant employees where a dozen people huddled for at least a half hour.
"We thought whoever was shooting was coming toward the crowd, so we thought someone behind us was aimlessly shooting at strangers," Phillipe said.
Jordan Ring who was walking her dog described it as a stampede. "Because the crowds were running and there were so many people, I saw a girl get trampled and she ran into a store to get help," Ring said.
Shattered glass has been cleaned up, but it rattled the nerves of many on a busy summer night.
Sicard is charged with assault by means of a dangerous weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm and discharging a firearm with 500 feet of a dwelling. He is expected to be arraigned in Boston Municipal Court.
The investigation remains active.