Chaos erupts after gunfire reported in Cambridge

Chaos broke out on the streets of Cambridge after reports of gunfire sent people running for safety in the college town.

(NBC)- Chaos broke out on the streets of Cambridge after reports of gunfire sent people running for safety in the college town.

Emergency radio traffic captured the tense moments as dispatchers reported gunshots and possible fires in the area.

Witnesses described seeing a man carrying a long gun while walking down a major street and firing shots.

“We heard some gunshots. Cars started turning around. They got jammed up on the sidewalk trying to turn around. People started running,” one witness said.

Another witness said the gunman appeared to fire directly at vehicles.

“He started shooting at the cars — tat tat tat tat,” the witness said.

A postal truck’s windshield was visibly shattered by a bullet hole, while several vehicles appeared crashed against trees nearby.

One man told NBC Boston he and a coworker heard around 20 gunshots while leaving a construction project.

“I looked up and the dude had his rifle pointed at us,” Brandon said. “So I turned and ran back to my car, jumped down behind my dashboard. My buddy got out of his and went running with the crowd.”

The frightening experience left witnesses shaken.

“Sorry, it’s hitting me right now,” Brandon said.

The Harvard Police Department said it received a call from Cambridge Police during the afternoon reporting that an armed person had fired shots and possibly injured two victims.

Officials said the suspect is in custody and there is no ongoing threat to campus.

Massachusetts State Police said no additional information was immediately available about the shooting.

As investigators continue working the scene, witnesses say they are still trying to process the terrifying ordeal.

“This much danger doesn’t happen in Cambridge,” one person said.