A shooting in Stoneham, Mass., left a U.S. Army veteran dead and another victim injured after they were targeted in the early Wednesday morning attack that "does not appear to be random," officials said.
The 26-year-old veteran was identified as Joseph Puopolo of Stoneham, his godfather, Joseph Alessandro, told reporters.
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"The entire family is devastated.
It's going to be a mess," Alessandro told the Boston Herald. "I don't believe it. His birthday was last week. He just came home from Afghanistan and now this had to happen. Twenty-six years old."
Puopolo was reportedly visiting a friend when the shooting occurred around 1:30 a.m. The friend who was injured is said to be the
son of a Medford police officer, according to CBS Boston. He is currently hospitalized but his condition is unknown.
No word yet on the motive for the shooting, but three men were arrested overnight in connection to the crime.
"It does not appear to be random," Mary Beth Long, spokeswoman for the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, told the Herald.
Alessandro told reporters that his godson served four years in the Army and was honored for saving the life of another soldier who lost a toe after stepping on a land mine.
"[Puopolo] picked up the toe and sewed it back on," he said. "He saved the guy's life. He was Special Forces, on the front line. Strong."
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