Updated on April 20, 2025 at 6:53 p.m.
Police responded to information reporting to Harvard Square station on Sunday afternoon, according to a series of alerts from the Harvard University Department.
Richard Sullivan, a Superintendent of the MBTA public transport police, confirmed that the police had responded to “a shot report” at Harvard Square station at 2:12 p.m.
A preliminary police investigation revealed that “a man, while on the platform in southern direction, apparently armed with a firearm seemed to draw approximately 4 to 5 rounds from a targeted individual,” wrote Sullivan, adding that no one was injured and that the suspect fled.
An on -site shelter command for Harvard affiliates was lifted at 3:19 p.m. two previous alerts, a published at 2:46 p.m. and the second at 3:08 p.m., asked students to take shelter while a search for suspects was in progress.
Brianna M. Carbajal ’26, who was waiting at Harvard Square at Red Line station, said he heard what looked like three or four shots fired shortly after 2 p.m., then saw a man coming out of the station holding a handgun.
Marcos Garcia ’28, which was in the Red Line Station during the shooting, said that he had seen the man run from the T station and to Harvard Square to Brattle Street.
“I have already talked to the police and they are looking for it at Brattle Square and in the courtyard,” said Garcia.
An MBTA train crossed Harvard Square station roughly when filming. Aaron E. Beaulieu, a resident of the Iminster who was on the train, reported three or four noisy noises from outside the train.
He said the train stopped, then the conductor crossed all the cars “telling everyone just to bear us for a moment.” The train left the station, then overturned and stopped at the station.
“We only saw police officers and people will leave,” said Beaulieu.
The turnstiles of Harvard Square station were blocked by prudence adhesive tape on Sunday afternoon, preventing pedestrians from entering most of the station. But the police did not prevent people from entering the station, according to an eyewitness.
An MBTA alert reported that trains on the red line could be delayed by about 15 minutes due to “police activity in Harvard”. Some trains may remain arrested at the stations, according to the alert.
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