In the early evening of June 18, 2018, a burst of gunfire shattered the quiet of a Lowell, Massachusetts neighborhood, leaving one man dead and two others wounded. The deceased was identified as Sarom Yut, a 33-year-old Black/African American man from Lowell. The incident, which took place in the vicinity of Westford and Sayles Streets, was not a random act of violence, according to authorities. Investigators quickly determined that the shooting was connected to a drug deal that had gone awry.
Yut was found by police on Smith Street and was pronounced dead at the scene. Another 33-year-old man was discovered with gunshot wounds and transported to a local hospital. A third victim, a 27-year-old male, also suffering from gunshot wounds, arrived at Lowell General Hospital. Both injured men were expected to survive. The investigation into the homicide was launched by the Middlesex District Attorney's Office, the Lowell Police Department, and Massachusetts State Police.
For years, the case remained under active investigation. Then, on January 1, 2025, a significant development was announced: a suspect had been apprehended in connection with the fatal shooting. While the name of the individual has not been publicly released, authorities confirmed the suspect was being held without bail. The arrest brought a renewed focus on the circumstances of Yut's death, reaffirming the investigators' belief that it was a violent outcome of an illicit drug transaction. The case continues to move through the justice system as the unnamed suspect awaits legal proceedings.
