On the evening of October 20, 2024, a shooting on Main Street in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, left 32-year-old Joshua Bell dead and another man critically injured. The attack occurred shortly before 7 p.m.; police found two men with gunshot wounds and Bell was taken to UMass Memorial HealthAlliance Hospital in Leominster, where he later died. The second victim was transported to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester in critical but stable condition.

Investigators focused on one suspect, 32-year-old Jarrod Hegarty of Townsend. Eyewitnesses and surveillance footage reportedly show Hegarty firing about six rounds at the victims after dining with them at a nearby restaurant, then fleeing into a building on Main Street. Hegarty allegedly barricaded himself there for nearly six hours before surrendering to state and local police at about 1 a.m. on October 21.

Hegarty was arraigned in Fitchburg District Court the same day on charges including armed assault with intent to murder, assault and battery with a firearm, and possession of a firearm without an FID card; he pleaded not guilty and was ordered held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing. The motive has not been disclosed. If anyone knew Joshua Bell or saw events on Main Street that evening, please share what might help the investigation.