Suspect Charged After Standoff, Fire in Everett, Massachusetts

This Christmas is one people on Summer Street in Everett, Massachusetts, won't soon forget.

"There were snipers on that roof, and they were all lined up here," recalled neighbor Joan Lavecchio.

A nearly six-hour standoff between Everett Police and 53-year-old Mark Levoine ended with his home going up in flames.

"It doesn't happen in this neighborhood, that's what my mother said last night," another neighbor, Madelyn Ouimette, said.

Neighbors say they heard what they believed to be gunshots coming from the inside the home.

"I was just sitting on the couch with my wife Christmas morning, listening to Christmas music, and all of the sudden, I heard this loud bang," said Michael Simko, who has lived on Summer Street for 48 years.

He was there when Everett Police raced to the scene after 911 calls poured in because of those gunshots.

"To see this house like that, it's a shame," said Simko.

When police arrived, Lavoine allegedly made threatening comments before barricading himself inside. Six hours later, police say Levoine came to the door, armed with three firearms as flames began to grow behind him. Officers were then able to arrest him.

"He was just an average guy," said Lavecchio, who has lived on Summer Street for 40 years.

She has spoken to Lavonie several times, but could never have imagined an armed standoff would have happened at his house.

"He was respectful and quiet, he just must have lost his mind," she said.

Lavonie's house is now badly burned. Crews spent Saturday morning cleaning up to make it safe as people are simply left to wonder.

No one was injured in the incident. Police say they don't know what caused Levoine to become hostile or started the fire.

The suspect faces charges of disorderly conduct and discharging a firearm within 50 feet of a building. He will be arraigned Monday.

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