Four people have been killed and three wounded in a spree of violence that stretched from Bowdoin, ME, to Interstate 295’s southbound Exit 15 in a series of dramatic events Tuesday.
Law enforcement responded to claims of an active shooter on 295 around 10:30 AM. Separately, the Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Department said it was investigating an incident in Bowdoin.
After the alleged shooter was detained near the turnpike, investigators surmised that the shooting was connected to the incident farther north at 1459 Augusta Road in Bowdoin.
Maine State Police later identified the shooter as Joseph Eaton, 34, of Bowdoin.
The cause of death of the four individuals in Bowdoin has yet to be released publicly.
The Maine State Police have yet to identify the “person of interest” in custody or the victims.
I-295 ground to a halt for much of the morning and afternoon as law enforcement responded to an active crime scene and investigated afterward.
The turnpike will remain partially closed as police continue to investigate, the State Police said.
Here’s the statement the police released:
Maine State Police investigation Bowdoin Deaths
Maine State Police are currently investigating several shootings that occurred in Bowdoin and Yarmouth on Thursday morning, April 28, 2023. Both shootings are connected. Investigators are currently working these scenes and will result in the road closure of I-295 southbound at Mile Marker 20 in Freeport to the Exit 15 off- ramp in Yarmouth for an undetermined amount of time. A person of interest has been detained in this matter. Through investigation Law enforcement has determined there is no threat to the public at this time. As a result of the shootings, four people were found deceased inside a home on the Augusta Road in Bowdoin. A short time later at approximately 10:30 am, three people were shot while driving their vehicles southbound near Mile Marker 17 and Exit 15 in Yarmouth. The victims were transported to a local hospital with one person is in critical condition. The four deceased individuals in Bowdoin have been transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta where an autopsy will be performed to determined manner and cause of death. If anyone was involved or witnessed the incident in either location, please call the Augusta Regional Communications Center at 207.624.7076 Option number 9.
Maine Wire Editor-in-Chief Steve Robinson was on the scene and took photos of a gray sedan on the shoulder of Exit 15, with what appeared to be bullet holes in the windshield.
The Maine DOT closed down a section of I-295 South today per the request of the Maine State Police, with even Wildlife Rescue being called to the scene.
Here are a few more tweets relating to the incident:
This story will be updated as new information comes out.
