Central Falls Teen Charged In Attleboro Shooting Incident

A Rhode Island man accused of firing shots at a man in Attleboro was arrested Tuesday morning at an apartment on Summer Street in Central Falls.

On Feb. 18, Attleboro police responded to shots fired on Old Richardson Avenue and learned that a male victim had been followed home by two cars. When the victim stopped to confront them, someone inside one of the vehicles fired multiple shots at him. The victim was not injured, Massachusetts State Police said in a media release.

Attleboro Police identified Mark A. Socia, 19, as the suspect and the MSP Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section learned that he might be found in Central Falls. Socia was arrested following a joint investigation by state police in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, Attleboro and Cranston police, and members of the U.S. Marshals Service.

Investigators on Tuesday went to the Summer Street address and saw a vehicle in the driveway matching the description, state police said. Officers located Socia inside the first-floor apartment and arrested him without incident.

Rhode Island troopers and Attleboro detectives subsequently obtained a search warrant for the apartment and say they found multiple rounds of ammunition and three firearms: a Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol with an obliterated serial number, a Smith & Wesson .38 Special revolver, and a polymer ghost gun — that is, a home-assembled firearm with no serial number made of parts generally purchased online.

Socia is charged with two counts of assault and battery with a firearm; two counts of carrying a dangerous weapon; and discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building.

The investigation was conducted by Attleboro Police, the Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section, United States Marshals, the Rhode Island State Police Violent Fugitive Task Force, and Central Falls Police.