Two 20-year-old Lawrence residents were found wounded after a Thursday night crash.
LAWRENCE, Mass. — Police are investigating a fatal shooting tied to a crash Thursday night after two 20-year-old Lawrence residents were found shot inside a Jeep Cherokee on Erving Avenue.
The woman later died at a hospital, while the man remained in critical condition Friday, according to Lawrence police and the Essex County District Attorney’s Office. The crash was reported around 9:21 p.m. near Short Street, turning a neighborhood block into a major crime scene as investigators tried to piece together whether the shooting caused the crash.
Officers responding to the area of 63 Erving Ave. found the pair inside a 2014 Jeep Cherokee. Both had apparent gunshot wounds. Authorities said the victims were from Lawrence but did not identify them. The woman was pronounced dead Friday morning. The man’s father told a local television station his son might not survive, as officials continued to list him in critical condition.
Investigators had not said whether another person fired into the Jeep, whether anyone else was inside the vehicle, or whether the shooting began somewhere else. They also had not described the crash damage or released a motive. The victims’ relationship was still being reviewed, officials said.
The scene drew a large emergency response. Video from a resident showed first responders working beside the crashed SUV while police secured the area. Neighbors said the incident was painful and frightening, especially because both victims were young. One nearby resident told reporters the violence was “very sad” and said her thoughts were with the families.
The case brought together city police, state police detectives and the district attorney’s office, the standard team for a fatal shooting in Essex County. Investigators were expected to examine the vehicle, collect shell casings or other evidence if found, and seek surveillance video from homes and businesses near Erving Avenue.
No arrest had been announced. Prosecutors had not said whether any charges were pending. The next steps include confirming the woman’s identity, determining the man’s medical status and establishing a timeline of the Jeep’s movements before the crash.
As of Sunday, May 3, the shooting remained under investigation. Officials had released few details, leaving key questions unanswered about who fired, where the gunfire began and what led the Jeep to crash.
Author note: Last updated May 3, 2026.