Man charged with attempted murder after firing gun inside restaurant

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — A man inside Margarita’s restaurant in Framingham was grazed by a bullet after what police called “a heated verbal exchange” inside the bar.

The man accused of pulling the trigger faced a judge Friday and several charges.

“Assault with a dangerous weapon, attempted murder,” said the clerk who read the charges that 30-year-old Patrick Riley of Framingham is now facing.

Prosecutors said heated words led to Riley pulling out a gun inside this Framingham restaurant Thursday night and then firing.

“The defendant Patrick Riley before you was alleged to have shot a firearm at another individual inside the bar at Margarita’s,” said Thomas Ayers, who is a Middlesex County District Attorney.

Prosecutors said Riley aimed at the victim’s head but the bullet only grazed his ear.

“Officers who responded to the scene at Margarita’s found a spent shell casing and observed blood on the floor of the restaurant as well,” said Ayers.

Riley had gone to the bar to watch the NFL draft with 22-year-old Cameron Dulmaine of Northbridge.

Several customers saw it all unfold. One unidentified witness told police she saw Riley: “…pull a firearm off his body, point at it at the male in the red flannel, and fire the gun.”

Riley then walked out. Dulmaine was in his car and Riley hopped in. The restaurant manager followed when the gun was turned on him.

The manager, whose name was not released, told police that he followed Riley “..in an attempt to identify the license plate, the passenger looked back at (him) and pointed a firearm at him.”

The pair got about a mile away when police stopped the car. They found the gun under the seat. Both were arrested.

Dulmaine was released on $850 bail. Riley was held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing next week.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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