The Kennebec Journal

March 19

Probe of drive-by shootings in Augusta, Chelsea continues

By Craig Crosby ccrosby@centralmaine.com
Staff Writer

AUGUSTA -- The investigation into last week's drive-by shootings in Augusta and Chelsea is ongoing, Augusta police said Thursday.

Lt. Keith Brann said detectives have conducted several interviews since the shootings.

Augusta police are offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the shooters.

"We've gotten lots of leads," Brann said.

At least five houses and a moving car were targeted in the March 9 shootings, all of which occurred between 3 and 4 p.m. Nobody was hurt.

At first, Augusta police responded to three separate reports of drive-by shootings. The reports were at two Cony Road homes and from a driver on South Belfast Avenue near the Hatch Hill landfill, Brann said.

A bullet hole was found in a third Cony Road home a few days after the shootings.

"While the Augusta police were investigating these complaints, Maine State Police were investigating similar incidents that had been reported ... in the town of Chelsea," Brann said a day after the shooting.

The complaints in Chelsea came from one homeowner on Sulya Lane and another on Townhouse Road, according to state police.

Police believe the shootings in Augusta and Chelsea are connected.

It is possible there were other victims, Madden said at the time, because a bullet hole may go undetected by a homeowner unless it breaks a window or causes other noticeable damage.

"People just might not have noticed," Madden said.

Police ask anyone with information to call Augusta police at 626-2370, ext. 237; or Maine State Police Trooper Christopher Crawford at (800) 452-4664.

Craig Crosby -- 621-5642

ccrosby@centralmaine.com