Thursday, March 16, 2000 Older Editions

Teen charged in I-495 shooting

By Neil Fater

State police arrested a 17-year-old Lawrence High School student at school Tuesday and charged him with firing a BB gun and hitting at least 11 cars driving along Interstate 495 South in Andover last Thursday.

The student, Nathan R. Karpinski, 17, of 128 Mt. Vernon St., Lawrence, was arraigned Tuesday and ordered held on $1,000 cash bail.

Sgt. Tim White, of the state police public affairs office, says all of the vehicles targeted were traveling through Andover between 7 and 8 p.m. near the Chandler Street overpass when they were struck.

Police believe Karpinski used a BB gun to shoot at cars, says White.

"He's being charged with assault by means of a dangerous weapon, 11 counts. There may be more victims to follow, though. We also have malicious destruction of property, 11 counts," says Trooper Richard Chase, of the Andover state police barracks.

Chase was one of the troopers to respond to the scene after several people called both state and local police to report the incidents. While parked on the side of the highway, Chase says he saw a limousine hit.

"I was there at the scene when these kids did the last one," says Chase.

White says police interviewed three kids found in the area shortly after the shooting, but no arrests were made at that time.

White does not rule out further arrests.