SWAT Standoff Shuts Down Beverly Neighborhood: Armed Suspect Apprehended Near Rantoul Street as Police Respond to Unrelated North Shore Manhunt

BEVERLY, MA (May 20, 2025) — A tense and heavily armed standoff in Beverly, Massachusetts came to an end late Monday afternoon, with a suspect taken into custody following hours of uncertainty, disruption, and a large-scale police response.

The incident, which began earlier in the day, unfolded on Rantoul Street near Garden City — an area lined with residential apartment complexes and local businesses, including a nearby Burger King. Witnesses described a sudden escalation of police presence, with tactical vehicles, armored trucks, and officers in full SWAT gear descending on the neighborhood.

The Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (NEMLEC) confirmed that its SWAT team was deployed to assist Beverly police as the situation intensified. State police, Essex County Sheriff’s deputies, and other regional agencies coordinated efforts as the situation developed.

Suspect in Custody

By early evening, authorities confirmed that the standoff had ended and the suspect was taken into custody without further incident. The identity of the individual has not yet been released, and it remains unclear whether they were armed or had barricaded themselves inside one of the nearby buildings.

Multiple police cruisers, tactical response vehicles, and emergency units were seen leaving the area shortly after the suspect was apprehended.

Community on Edge

For much of the day, tension rippled across this quiet coastal community north of Boston. Law enforcement cordoned off parts of Rantoul Street, restricting public access and urging residents to shelter in place as a precaution.

“I just saw all the police rushing in. They told us to stay inside and keep our doors locked,” said Marie Langston, a resident who lives two blocks from the scene. “We didn’t know what was going on. It was terrifying.”

Businesses in the immediate vicinity were either closed or operating under lockdown protocols. The Beverly School District did not report any direct threats to school facilities, but district officials confirmed they were monitoring the situation closely in coordination with law enforcement.

Separate Incident: North Shore Manhunt Still Underway

While panic initially spread due to reports of a separate high-profile police pursuit on the North Shore earlier today, authorities were quick to clarify that the Beverly standoff is not related to the ongoing manhunt for suspects who fled a vehicle earlier in Danvers following a motor vehicle pursuit originating in Saugus.

In that case, three individuals fled on foot after abandoning a vehicle near Mello Parkway. They are being sought for questioning related to an incident in Lynn, though police emphasized that none of them are suspects in a homicide investigation.

Descriptions of the individuals involved in that case are as follows:

• A Black male wearing a white shirt
• A white male with dreadlocks, dressed in all black
• A female (race unknown) wearing all black and carrying a pink backpack

Massachusetts State Police, the Essex County Sheriff’s Department, K-9 units, and aerial surveillance teams continue to search the area for those suspects.

Unanswered Questions Remain

As of now, law enforcement has not released details regarding what prompted the standoff in Beverly — including whether it involved a domestic disturbance, a warrant execution, or a mental health crisis. Officials have not disclosed if any weapons were recovered or if anyone was injured during the incident.

Residents are urged to continue avoiding the area around Rantoul Street and Garden City, though restrictions are expected to be lifted soon as the scene is secured and cleared.

A Developing Story

Authorities are expected to release more information as the investigation progresses. Anyone with relevant information about the Beverly standoff or the unrelated manhunt in Danvers is encouraged to contact local law enforcement.

Stay with us as we continue to follow this developing story. Updates will be provided as soon as they become available from official sources.