By John Lynds
An East Boston man led police on a wild chase through the Sumner Tunnel after shooting a man on Maverick Street.
Richard Nunez, 40 of East Boston was eventually arrested and charged with Assault and Battery by Means of a Dangerous Weapon, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, and Unlawful Possession of Ammunition and a host of other motor vehicle infractions after he was finally caught in one of the Big Dig tunnels near Storrow Drive.
The incident occurred early Saturday morning when police were called to 234 Maverick St. at 4:33 a.m. for a person shot.
Police en route to the shooting were given a heads-up from witnesses that Nunez was fleeing the scene in a Toyota 4Runner.
Officers continued toward the victim while other officers attempted to locate the fleeing Nunez. The victim was located suffering a gunshot wound to the leg and transported to Massachusetts General Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
At about the same time that officers located the victim, other officers observed Nunez’s motor vehicle turning from London Street towards the Sumner Tunnel entrance.
Officers activated their lights and sirens in an attempt to stop Nunez’s vehicle but without success.
Nunez reportedly continued to try to evade officers getting onto Storrow Drive until it was successfully blocked off near the Government Center exit.
There, officers were finally able to order Nunez out of the car and removed a loaded semi-automatic firearm from his waist.