Woburn was left reeling again after another police officer was shot during an armed robbery yesterday.
The jewelry store holdup that ended with officers exchanging gunfire with the robbers was the second incident in the last eight months in which a city officer was shot.
“It’s kind of unbelievable,” said Woburn Police Chief Richard Kelly. “But we’re handling it. We’re dealing with it.”
Multiple 911 calls came in during the 11 a.m. robbery of Musto Jewelers.
Officer Robert Denapoli, a 16-year veteran, was one of the first to arrive. He was shot multiple times, but was expected to survive.
One of the suspects, whom authorities did not identify, was also shot and was going through surgery yesterday afternoon.
Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone did not say who shot first, but that is being investigated.
Witnesses said they heard about three shots, followed by a pause and then another burst of gunfire of three to seven shots.
Jon Stevens, who works at a gas station near the jewelry store, said he looked up after hearing the shots and saw one of the suspects running toward a car dealership. The suspect collided with a parked car, turned and fired at the officers, Stevens said.
“It’s strange,” he said. “You just don’t think of Woburn that way.”
Officer John Maguire was fatally shot during a robbery on Dec. 26. The shooter was also shot and killed.
