A Lewiston man with an extensive criminal history pleaded guilty on Thursday to a manslaughter charge after a 2023 shooting incident that killed a man and eventually culminated in his arrest following a dramatic hours-long standoff.
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Jerry Thibodeau, 38, of Lewiston, pleaded guilty to the charge on Thursday after previously pleading not guilty to a charge of murder in the killing of Anthony Ayotte, 40, of Lewiston.
On November 3, 2023, Thibodeau dropped Ayotte off at the St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center emergency room with multiple gunshot wounds.
Thibodeau, who knew Ayotte, shot him before dropping him off at the hospital. Ayotte died from his wounds in the hospital.
After an investigation, law enforcement tracked Thibodeau to a Lewiston residence, but he refused to submit to arrest. The Maine State Police Tactical Team and Crisis Negotiation Team responded to the scene.
After an hours-long standoff, police eventually took Thibodeau into custody and charged him with murder.
Court records indicated that Thibodeau had an extensive criminal history, including a federal drug-dealing conviction. At the time of the shooting, he was out on bail following an arrest for drug trafficking, driving to endanger, assault, failure to stop for police, and possession of a firearm as a felon.
