FITCHBURG — On Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at approximately 2:51 p.m., Fitchburg police responded to the apartment building located at 11 Willow Street after receiving an initial report of a disturbance involving a firearm, and then a subsequent report of an injured male inside an apartment at 11 Willow Street.
Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office also responded to the scene.
When officers arrived on scene, they located a 36-year-old man suffering from a single gunshot wound, according to a statement issued by the Fitchburg Police Department.
Police provided first aid until an ambulance arrived and transported the man to an area hospital. The victim is currently in critical but stable condition, according to the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office.
In a statement issued around 10:00 p.m. Wednesday, Fitchburg police said the suspect fled the scene and has since been taken into custody.
During the police response, Fitchburg State University Police issued an alert to students at Simonds Hall, a university housing complex on Willow Street, which is away from the main campus.
The alert advised students to remain indoors and stay away from 11 Willow Street “out of an abundance of caution,” Fitchburg State University police spokesperson Matthew Bruun said, according to MassLive. No students, university staff or campus buildings were involved in the incident.
The incident is in the early stages of investigation by the Fitchburg Police Department and Massachusetts State Police.