Nearly three years after the deadliest mass shooting in Maine history, Lewiston is once again confronting a public safety crisis…this time involving juveniles.
Children are shooting children.
The shootings have continued throughout 2026, alarming residents, law enforcement officials, educators, and community leaders. The Lewiston Police Department has repeatedly acknowledged staffing challenges while officers continue responding to a growing number of incidents involving juveniles carrying firearms and engaging in violent crime.
In response to those concerns, the Maine Wire and Calvary Chapel of Lewiston recently hosted a community forum focused on youth gun violence. Residents, law enforcement officials, school leaders, elected officials, and members of the public gathered to discuss the growing crisis and possible solutions.
Following that forum, numerous Lewiston residents contacted Gov. Janet Mills, urging her administration to become more involved and provide assistance to the city.
To date, there has been no public announcement from the Governor outlining any new state response specifically addressing Lewiston’s escalating juvenile gun violence.
This reporter attempted to ask Gov. Mills about the issue Saturday during the opening of the Maine Mill Museum. The governor declined to engage in a discussion about Lewiston’s ongoing violence.
The silence has become increasingly noticeable.
Lewiston City Councilor Susan Longchamps has publicly called on Gov. Mills to deploy the Maine National Guard to assist the city. As of publication, there has been no public response from the Governor to that request.
Residents continue asking the same questions.
Has the Governor seen the reports documenting children carrying loaded firearms through city streets? Has she heard Lewiston Police Chief Carly Conley’s repeated warnings about juvenile violence? Has she listened to concerns raised by prosecutors, city officials, parents, and residents who say they no longer feel safe?
Those questions remain unanswered.
Public safety is one of the core responsibilities of state government. While no single solution exists for the complex problems facing Lewiston, residents increasingly say they expect visible leadership from Augusta.
The concern is no longer simply about crime statistics. It is about whether state leaders recognize the urgency of what is happening inside Maine’s second-largest city.
The absence of a visible response has fueled frustration among many residents who believe Lewiston’s situation deserves greater attention from the state’s highest elected officials.
The same questions are now being directed toward Democratic gubernatorial candidate Hannah Pingree, who has not publicly outlined a detailed plan specifically addressing Lewiston’s surge in juvenile gun violence.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Bobby Charles has acknowledged the city’s public safety challenges and has argued that the situation requires immediate action.
Whether voters agree with his proposals or not, many Lewiston residents say they are looking for leaders willing to acknowledge the severity of the crisis and offer concrete solutions.
Meanwhile, the shootings continue.
Parents continue worrying.
Police officers continue answering calls.
Children continue finding themselves involved in gun violence.
For many Lewiston residents, the question has become increasingly simple:
Where is the Governor?
They are not asking for political speeches. They are asking for leadership.
As juvenile shootings continue and city officials plead for assistance, many residents believe continued silence from Augusta is becoming increasingly difficult to understand.
With lives at stake, they argue, this is not a crisis that can simply be ignored.
