Source: Victim in fatal shooting was known gang member & likely targeted

LYNN, Mass. — A Lynn man who had just finished serving prison time for a gang-related shooting ten years ago was fatally shot Wednesday night.

Police identified the victim as 29-year-old Vannark Chourb of Lynn. A source tells Boston 25 he was a known gang member and was likely targeted in the shooting.

Authorities responded to 43 Elm Street for a reported shooting at around 10:43 p.m. Officers found Chourb lying on the street suffering from a gunshot wound and pronounced him dead at the scene.

Neighbors said they weren't sure if they had heard firecrackers of gunshots, saying that it is not uncommon to hear either in that neighborhood.

"It was two really quick shots," said Sophia, a neighbor. "I jumped up. I was dead asleep and it woke me up."

Sophia and her husband, Jan, looked outside as soon as the gunshots woke them up, but say they didn't see a gunman, only Chourb lying on the street.

"It definitely sounded like gunfire," said Jan Carlos. "There’s a lot around here. You hear it."

Chourb was a convicted gang member sentenced to 8 to 10 years for a 2008 shooting that injured two people. According to the clerk mgistrate's office, Chourb was charged back in 2008 with two counts of armed assault to murder and carrying a firearm (2nd offense). He pleaded guilty in 2010.

Family members said he was the youngest of six and had recently been released from prison.

“I’m at the police station right now," said Vandy Chourb, Vannark's sister. "I really don’t know if there’s any leads or anything like that but they asked me to come in. I don't know what he was involved in."

Vandy Chourb says she has no idea why someone would have wanted to kill her brother.

Tha Chhum, a family friend, was taken aback by the news of Chourb's death.

“We’re angry, sometimes it’s just hard," said Chhum. "I just got a phone call from the family and they tell he’s gone and I couldn’t believe it. My heart dropped.”

Police haven't said if they have any suspects or if they've made any arrests.

Cox Media Group