Law enforcement officials in Massachusetts are actively searching for 22-year-old Ryan Hanafin. He is a person of interest in the shooting death of his 49-year-old mother, Andria Hanafin. Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and local police announced the homicide investigation on Thursday morning following a tragic overnight discovery in Reading.
Discovery of the Incident on Center Avenue
According to Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan, the investigation began after emergency services received a 911 call at approximately 12:38 a.m. Thursday. The victim’s husband returned home from work and discovered Andria Hanafin suffering from an apparent gunshot wound inside the kitchen of the family’s Center Avenue home. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators noted that the couple’s 13-year-old son was inside the home at the time. He had last seen his mother alive around 5:00 p.m. Wednesday before going out. An older sister was away at school when the shooting occurred. Authorities stated that the family had no prior history with the Reading Police Department. Officials are treating the tragedy as an apparent domestic violence incident.
Vehicle and Suspect Information Sought
Police are urging the public to locate Ryan Hanafin and his vehicle. He is described as a white male, approximately 5 feet, 10 inches tall, with brown hair and hazel eyes. He may be driving a black 2010 Dodge Charger with Massachusetts license plate 2PSY15. The vehicle was last tracked traveling on Interstate 93 near Tewksbury at about 7:25 p.m. Wednesday.
"We have an individual who did have a license to carry, who does have some guns that were registered to him," Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said during a morning news conference. "It’s a moment of reflection on the presence of guns in a home during an alleged dispute."
Public Safety Warning
Authorities have stressed that Ryan Hanafin should be considered armed and dangerous and warn citizens not to approach him. Reading police suspended his active license to carry a firearm on Thursday morning. The suspected murder weapon has not yet been recovered.
Law enforcement agencies, including Massachusetts State Police detectives and the Reading Police Department, are asking anyone who encounters Hanafin or spots his black Dodge Charger to dial 911 immediately. The investigation remains active and ongoing as police continue to search for him and his vehicle.
