SABATTUS, ME - Officials with the Maine State Police (MSP) confirmed that three people were fatally shot following a shooting that happened on Route 9 shortly before 4:15 p.m. on Wednesday, April 2nd.
According to WMTW, police said that 47-year-old Christine Smith was driving on King Road when she was killed by her 29-year-old son, James Davis III, when she reached the intersection of Middle Road, near the Lisbon town line. The vehicle traveled across Middle Road before coming to a stop, at which point Davis exited the car and began shooting randomly at passing vehicles.
Another woman, 53-year-old Katherine Williams was driving on Middle Road when she was struck by gunfire. Police said Williams was transported to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, where she was pronounced dead. Regional School Unit 4 Superintendent Katy Grondin said that Williams, who went by the nickname "Kay," was the food service manager at the Carrie Ricker School and Libby Tozier School; two elementary schools.
CBS News reported that Grondin spoke fondly of Williams, saying, "Her kindness and dedication made a lasting impact on our school community, and she will be deeply missed. Our hearts go out to her family as they navigate this loss. It has been a difficult day for all of us as we mourn the passing of a valued and beloved member of our school family."
Police said two other drivers, 19-year-old Tyson Turner and 35-year-old David Wilson, were also shot. Turner and Wilson were traveling in separate cars and the only people in their vehicles. Both men were transported to the hospital and are expected to survive their injuries.
Police said after that, Davis then shot and killed himself. The bodies of Smith, Williams, and Davis were transported to the Chief Medical Examiner's Office in Augusta, where autopsies will be conducted. During their initial investigation, MSP Col. William Ross said that investigators learned Davis went over to his father's Sabattus home earlier on Wednesday and spent the majority of the day there with family members.
According to Ross, family members told police that Davis started having a mental health crisis, as he was acting erratically and saying things that did not make much sense. Ross said investigators also learned that Davis was armed with a .357 revolver and an AK-47 rifle, and that he had brought other firearms to his father's house.
Ross said that family members were trying to contact Smith, who was Davis' primary caregiver and lived with him. James Davis II, Davis' father, made arrangements to take his son to see his mother. Davis' parents met up on Birchwood Drive, and Davis got into his mother's vehicle. Investigators believe Smith was driving her son home when Davis shot her with the .357 revolver.
Ross said Davis was armed with the AK-47 rifle when he exited the vehicle, and in the gun he used to shoot at vehicles that were traveling from Lisbon to Sabattus on Route 9. Lisbon Police Chief Ryan McGee and Ross said their respective agencies have had no prior interaction with Davis. Ross said, "A very dynamic scene involving a mother and an adult child. So it has a domestic undertone to it. Then you have random acts of violence at people that James Davis III did not know and did not have contact prior to shooting." Police said the shootings remain under investigation.
According to WMTW, police said that 47-year-old Christine Smith was driving on King Road when she was killed by her 29-year-old son, James Davis III, when she reached the intersection of Middle Road, near the Lisbon town line. The vehicle traveled across Middle Road before coming to a stop, at which point Davis exited the car and began shooting randomly at passing vehicles.
Another woman, 53-year-old Katherine Williams was driving on Middle Road when she was struck by gunfire. Police said Williams was transported to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, where she was pronounced dead. Regional School Unit 4 Superintendent Katy Grondin said that Williams, who went by the nickname "Kay," was the food service manager at the Carrie Ricker School and Libby Tozier School; two elementary schools.
CBS News reported that Grondin spoke fondly of Williams, saying, "Her kindness and dedication made a lasting impact on our school community, and she will be deeply missed. Our hearts go out to her family as they navigate this loss. It has been a difficult day for all of us as we mourn the passing of a valued and beloved member of our school family."
Police said two other drivers, 19-year-old Tyson Turner and 35-year-old David Wilson, were also shot. Turner and Wilson were traveling in separate cars and the only people in their vehicles. Both men were transported to the hospital and are expected to survive their injuries.
Police said after that, Davis then shot and killed himself. The bodies of Smith, Williams, and Davis were transported to the Chief Medical Examiner's Office in Augusta, where autopsies will be conducted. During their initial investigation, MSP Col. William Ross said that investigators learned Davis went over to his father's Sabattus home earlier on Wednesday and spent the majority of the day there with family members.
According to Ross, family members told police that Davis started having a mental health crisis, as he was acting erratically and saying things that did not make much sense. Ross said investigators also learned that Davis was armed with a .357 revolver and an AK-47 rifle, and that he had brought other firearms to his father's house.
Ross said that family members were trying to contact Smith, who was Davis' primary caregiver and lived with him. James Davis II, Davis' father, made arrangements to take his son to see his mother. Davis' parents met up on Birchwood Drive, and Davis got into his mother's vehicle. Investigators believe Smith was driving her son home when Davis shot her with the .357 revolver.
Ross said Davis was armed with the AK-47 rifle when he exited the vehicle, and in the gun he used to shoot at vehicles that were traveling from Lisbon to Sabattus on Route 9. Lisbon Police Chief Ryan McGee and Ross said their respective agencies have had no prior interaction with Davis. Ross said, "A very dynamic scene involving a mother and an adult child. So it has a domestic undertone to it. Then you have random acts of violence at people that James Davis III did not know and did not have contact prior to shooting." Police said the shootings remain under investigation.
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