Some things stick with you

Our court reporter Lisa Redmond reports that Robert Gulla, 21, of Shirley, was convicted of murder this afternoon.

I don’t often report on court cases here on the blog, but the murder of Allison Myrick, a 19-year-old college student from Groton, is a story that has stuck with me over the last couple years.

I stood outside Gulla’s house for hours on the night of the killing, and the more I’ve learned about it over the years, the more I’ve realized how terrible this crime was.

Here is the last full story Lisa wrote about the murder on Tuesday night.

And here is the press release from the DA announcing Gulla’s conviction.

Gulla will be sentenced tomorrow. Rest in peace Allison Myrick.

A good deed in the crime blog

This isn’t a page one story or anything, but after six days of vacation, I thought it was a good way to get back to work.

I wasn’t even officially back at work yet today when I stopped by the main post office in Lowell. As I was on my way back to my car in the parking lot, an elderly woman asked me if I had a coat hanger in my car. She was locked out of her own car.

A Lowell Police officer was already helping the woman, but was having a tough time getting the door unlocked.

I thought I may have had a coat hanger in my trunk, so I opened it to check. Before I could even check, though, Officer Sergio Maldonado managed to get the woman’s door unlocked, earning a very heartfelt “thank you.”

First shooting of 2012 in Lowell?

The crime blog is back in action.

Unfortunately, there was some action while I was gone.

I got back to work this afternoon and went through the email alerts I get from Crimemapping.com, and discovered there was an attempted murder Saturday morning about 2 a.m.

Capt. Jonathan Webb tells me a 25-year-old Lowell man was shot in the thigh on Branch Street, near Walker Street, while meeting with an acquaintance.

The 25-year-old, who Webb declined to identify, was hospitalized for several days but has since been released.

The investigation into the shooting is ongoing. No arrests have been made.

Crime blog on vacation

Well, it’s been a lively night, but I have to report that I’ll be off work from now until next week. Keep checking www.lowellsun.com for breaking news while I’m gone, and please don’t let the city burn down.

I like it here and will be home soon.

I’ll be back to work on Wednesday, May 30, with a large cup of coffee in hand.

Two arrested for theft of a dog

I’m a little busy here since I’ve got a lot to accomplish before my vacation starts at midnight tonight, but here’s a story I just cranked out about the alleged theft of a pit bull in Dracut today.

By Robert Mills
rmills@lowellsun.com
DRACUT — A Dracut couple is facing charges they stole a dog from another couple during an altercation on Methuen Street, and then struck a woman with a car as they fled with the dog.
Deputy Chief David Chartrand said Emanuel Lima, 28, and Ashley Dewolfe, 27, both of 21 Wigham Ave., met up with a couple they know on Methuen Street in the area of Hillside Drive about 7:15 p.m.
“They met to talk about money that was owed between the couples, and the discussion turned into an altercation,” Chartrand said.
The victims in the case, who police did not identify, had their dog, a pit bull, in their car when the fight broke out.
“They took the dog from the victims’ vehicle, placed it in their vehicle, and began to flee,” Chartrand said.
As Emanuel and Dewolfe fled, their car struck the female victim, who was taken to Lowell General Hospital for observation, Chartrand said. Her injuries did not appear to be serious, he said.
Emanuel and Dewolfe had fled the area by the time police were contacted, but the victims told police where they live.
Chartrand said Emanuel and Dewolfe were arrested at their home a short time later.