Massachusetts police have launched an urgent manhunt for a son described as potentially “armed and dangerous” after his mother was found fatally shot inside the kitchen of her suburban home.
Andria Hanafin, 49, was discovered dead at her Reading, Massachusetts, residence during the early hours of Thursday.
Authorities believe her 22-year-old son, Ryan Hanafin, has fled the area. Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan identified him as a person of interest in the shooting during a press conference.
The district attorney urged residents to exercise “extreme caution” if they see Hanafin, warning that he may be armed and dangerous.
The weapon used in the shooting has not been recovered. Officials said Ryan Hanafin held a valid gun license, which was suspended Thursday morning after the killing was discovered.
Investigators said Hanafin may be traveling in a 2010 black Dodge Charger with Massachusetts license plate 2PSY15.
Police said Andria was found by her husband, Matthew, shortly after midnight Thursday when he returned home after working a 12-hour shift.
Andria was pronounced dead at the scene. Ryan said the shooting is being treated as a case of domestic violence, “although not the traditional domestic violence situation that we think of.”
Authorities are searching urgently for 22-year-old Ryan Hanafin, a person of interest after his mother was found shot dead at their Reading, Massachusetts, home on Thursday
Andria Hanafin, 49, was the mother of three and was found dead during the early hours of Thursday after an apparent dispute with her son
At Thursday’s press conference, the district attorney said investigators believe the fatal shooting followed a dispute between Andria and her son.
“It is a moment of reflection about the presence of guns in a home,” she said. “It is shocking. It is tragic.”
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The Hanafin family has three children. Their youngest, a 13-year-old, was home when the 911 call was placed, while another child, a daughter, was away at college when the shooting occurred.
Matthew told police he had not seen Ryan since Wednesday morning, before leaving for his shift on Thursday afternoon and later returning home to find his wife dead from a gunshot wound.
According to the Boston Globe, Ryan Hanafin was most recently employed about six months ago and had previously attended a local university.
Residents in the suburb have been warned to expect a significant law enforcement presence as police search for the suspect
Police said Matthew Hanafin found his wife Andria dead when he returned from a 12-hour shift. Their son is being sought as a person of interest
Authorities urged residents to use “extreme caution” if they encounter 22-year-old Ryan Hanafin, who may be armed and dangerous
Police said the family had no known history of visits from authorities before Thursday evening’s shooting
Reading Police Chief David Clark said residents should expect a heavy police presence in the area for some time while investigators process the crime scene and continue searching for Hanafin.
Police ‘are looking to find out what happened at that home last night,’ Clark said, adding that the family had no history of visits from the police before Thursday evening.
‘We have two children now that have lost their mother. We have another child who’s at least a person of interest at this point,’ Ryan continued.
‘So this is a first and foremost a terrible tragedy… We certainly don’t want a tragedy to be compounded by anything else.’
