By: Alyssa Wilson

WARNING: This story contains details of gun violence.  

In Winthrop, Massachusetts, a gunman killed two Black people after crashing a stolen plumbing truck on Saturday. According to NBC 10 Boston the gunman, 28-year-old Nathan Allen, was then shot and killed by police.  

RELATED: Hate crimes in US reach highest level in more than a decade 

The victims were identified as 58-year-old David Green, a retired Massachusetts State Police officer, and 60-year-old Ramona Cooper, an Air Force veteran who still worked for the military. Green was shot four times in the head and three times in the torso, while Cooper was shot three times in the back in a shooting described by the District Attorney as “an execution.”  

Yesterday, retired Massachusetts State Trooper David Green and Air Force Staff Sergeant Ramona Cooper were murdered in Winthrop by a man who drew swastikas and handwrote messages about whites being superior and “apex predators.” pic.twitter.com/kBRt6Wmwtv

— DA Rachael Rollins (@DARollins) June 28, 2021

Green, who was killed outside of his home, was a Massachusetts State Police Officer for 36 years before retiring in 2016. “Trooper David Green more than upheld the ideals of integrity, professionalism, and service to others that are the hallmarks of a great Trooper,” police commander Col. Christopher Mason said. “We are heartbroken by his loss and offer our condolences to his family and friends.”  

The shooting is now being investigated as a hate crime after investigators found Allen made white supremacist rhetoric that targeted Black and Jewish people. He held a Ph.D., had no criminal history and was not on law enforcement’s radar.  

“To all external sources, he likely appeared unassuming. And then yesterday afternoon, he stole a box truck, crashed it into another vehicle and a property, walked away from the wreckage interacting with multiple individuals and choosing only to shoot and kill the two Black people he encountered,” Rollins said.  

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker tweeted about the incident, calling it “a despicable act.”  

The Green and Cooper families lost loved ones to a despicable act and we lost two cherished public servants who proved their mettle time and time again. Awful, dreadful story. Rest in peace Trooper Green and USAF Veteran Cooper.

— Charlie Baker (@MassGovernor) June 28, 2021

Assistant U.S. House Speaker Katherine Clark, who lives in a nearby town, says the community has been targeted by violence fueled by hate.  

RELATED: Justice Department to review how best to fight hate crimes 

Our community has been targeted by hate-fueled violence. We must stand together and reject these abhorrent values. Hate has no place here or anywhere. #Winthrop https://t.co/aVGNUGKlEF

— Katherine Clark (@RepKClark) June 28, 2021

The shooting and the motive remain under investigation.  

If you or someone you know is struggling from trauma triggered by this story, resources are available here.