Maine man arrested for allegedly fatally shooting parents, family friends, and firing at cars on highway
04/19/2023 12:49 pm PDT
BOWDOIN, Maine (TCD) -- A 34-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly killing four people inside a home Tuesday, then opening fire at cars on the I-295, which injured three others.
On Tuesday, April 18, several law enforcement officials spoke at a press conference regarding the shooting that shook a small town.
According to Maine State Police Col. William Ross, at 9:21 a.m., the Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office received a call about a deceased person found inside a home at 1459 Augusta Road in Bowdoin.
Deputies arrived on scene and located two other deceased adults inside and another victim in a barn outside. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner identified the three victims found inside as 72-year-old Roger Eger, his wife, 62-year-old Patricia Eger, and 62-year-old Cynthia Eaton. The man outside was identified as 66-year-old David Eaton.
Cynthia and David Eaton owned the home on Augusta Road and the Egers were their friends.
All four victims died from gunshot wounds.
Maine State Police soon arrived on scene and began investigating. At about 10:30 a.m., several nearby police departments began responding to reports of a shooting on Interstate 295. Three people were injured in the incident. Ross identified them as Sean Halsey and his children, Justin and Paige Halsey. Sean and Justin Halsey were treated for non-life-threatening injuries, but Paige remains in critical condition.
Yarmouth Police located a vehicle near Exit 15 and identified 34-year-old Joseph Eaton as a person of interest. He is the son of Cynthia and David Eaton.
Investigators found Eaton hiding in the woods and arrested him on four counts of murder.
According to Ross, Eaton admitted to killing his parents and firing shots at vehicles on the highway because he thought police officers were following him.
On Friday, April 14, Eaton was released from the Windham Correctional Center, where he had been in custody for about two years. His mother reportedly picked him up and took him back to their home on Augusta Road.
Eaton is currently in custody at Two Bridges Regional Jail.
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