Authorities in Massachusetts have launched a search for a 22-year-old man identified as a person of interest after his mother was found fatally shot inside their family home in Reading.
Andria Hanafin, 49, was discovered dead in the kitchen of the suburban property shortly after midnight on Thursday.
Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said investigators believe the shooting followed a dispute between Hanafin and her son, Ryan Hanafin, but no criminal charge against him was announced at the time of the search.
Son Identified as Person of Interest
Ryan Hanafin, 22, is being sought by police in connection with the investigation.
District Attorney Ryan urged members of the public to exercise extreme caution if they encounter him, saying authorities consider him potentially armed and dangerous.
Investigators have not recovered the firearm believed to have been used in the shooting.
Officials said Hanafin held a legal firearms licence, which was suspended on Thursday morning after the shooting was discovered.
Police Search for Black Dodge Charger
Authorities believe Hanafin may be travelling in a 2010 black Dodge Charger bearing Massachusetts registration plate 2PSY1.
Police have asked the public to remain alert while investigators continue searching for the vehicle and the suspect.
Reading Police Chief David Clark said residents should expect a significant law enforcement presence in the area while officers investigate the circumstances surrounding the death.
Husband Discovered Victim After Returning From Work
According to authorities, Andria Hanafin’s husband, Matthew, discovered her body after returning home from a 12-hour work shift.
He told police that he had not seen his son since Wednesday morning.
Andria was pronounced dead at the scene.
District Attorney Ryan described the case as a suspected domestic violence incident at this stage, while noting that it did not fit what she called the traditional understanding of domestic violence.
Investigators Point to Dispute Between Mother and Son
Authorities said preliminary information indicates that a dispute between Andria and Ryan Hanafin preceded the shooting.
Ryan described the circumstances as both shocking and tragic, while also highlighting the presence of firearms in the home.
Investigators are continuing to establish what happened inside the property and what led to the fatal shooting.
Youngest Child Was at Home
The Hanafin family has three children.
Authorities said the youngest, a 13-year-old child, was at the home when the 911 call was made. Another child, a daughter, was attending college and was away from the property at the time.
The circumstances surrounding the whereabouts of the other family members remain part of the ongoing investigation.
No Previous Police History Reported
Reading police said the family had not previously been known to authorities through police visits before the incident.
Chief Clark said investigators were working to determine exactly what occurred at the residence and why the shooting happened.
He described the situation as a serious tragedy for the family and the wider community.
Authorities Warn of Continued Police Presence
Residents of Reading have been warned to expect police activity in the area as investigators process the crime scene and continue efforts to locate Hanafin.
Authorities have urged anyone who encounters the person of interest to exercise extreme caution rather than approaching him.
The investigation remains ongoing, and officials have not announced any charges against Ryan Hanafin at this stage.
Investigation Continues
District Attorney Ryan said the immediate priority was determining what happened and locating the person authorities are seeking.
She also acknowledged the impact of the death on the family, noting that two children had lost their mother while another family member had become the focus of the investigation.
Officials said they would provide further information as the investigation develops.
