FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, Oct. 7, 2019

Media Contact: Jordan Mayblum
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: jordan@jgpr.net

North Andover Man Arraigned After Discharging Firearm in Whole Foods Parking Lot in Melrose

MELROSE – Melrose Chief of Police Michael Lyle and Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan have confirmed that Eric Marklis, 37 of North Andover was arraigned today in Malden District Court on charges of assault with a dangerous weapon, armed kidnapping, possession with intent to distribute a class D substance and discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling in connection with allegedly firing a gun in the parking lot of Whole Foods located on Main Street in Melrose after an alleged attempt to sell THC vape pods to a minor.

On October 4 at approximately 8:43 p.m. Melrose police responded to the parking lot of Whole Foods for a report of a car chasing a person, and the sound of gun shots.  Upon arrival police located Eric Marklis in the driver’s side of a vehicle with a juvenile male passenger.  Mr. Marklis was allegedly in possession of marijuana including in the form of THC vape pods, rolled joints and edibles, the defendant was also allegedly in possession of a 9mm hand gun.

The preliminary investigation suggests that the defendant allegedly came to the Whole Parking lots with the intent to sell THC vape pods to two juvenile males.  The juveniles subsequently attempted to flee without paying and the defendant allegedly chased after one juvenile in his car and shot a round into the ground before demanding the juvenile to get back into the car.

“The officers involved in this case did a tremendous job in preventing this situation from escalating further with a suspect whose behavior was clearly unpredictable within close proximity to this busy shopping center,” Chief Lyle said. “I’m grateful nobody was injured as a result of this incident.”

At today’s arraignment Judge Benjamin Barnes released the defendant on $200 cash bail with the condition that he remain in Massachusetts during the pendency of this case; and that he surrender all firearms to the North Andover Police Department.

These charges are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The prosecutor who handled today’s arraignment was Emily Shepard-Koningsor.

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