LIVERMORE FALLS, Maine — Video shows a happy Livermore Falls family as members reunite after the day-long hostage situation closed a section of town all day Monday. The last hostage was released just after midnight Tuesday morning.
During a press conference Tuesday, Maine State Police Lt. Jason Madore said the suspect, who the Maine Attorney General's Office later confirmed to be Donald White, 44, of Jay, is dead.
"One of our officers did use deadly force. As is standard procedure, he has been placed on administrative leave," Madore said. "Mr. White’s cause and manner of death is part of the investigation by the Attorney General’s Office. We are cooperating with the Attorney General’s Office in their investigation into our use of force."
On Wednesday, the Attorney General's Office said the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined White died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head and that the injury he sustained from being shot by a state trooper was non-lethal.
The Attorney General's Office said, "the investigation of the trooper’s use of deadly force is continuing and no further details will be available until its completion."
As of 11 a.m. Tuesday, there were multiple explosive devices still in the home, according to Madore. The scene remained secured until police can made sure the area was safe.
Police said Tuesday night, the safety concerns at the scene and on Knapp Street have been addressed and it is safe for all residents to return to the area. An officer will remain on the scene.
NEWS CENTER Maine spoke to one of the hostages, Ken Smith. He said he was awakened early Monday morning by Donald White. Smith said White told him to "just go along with it."
Smith said he knew White, and that White was his daughter's ex-boyfriend. Smith said he was tazed and cut by White during the incident.
Smith had visible scratches and marks on his body. NEWS CENTER Maine's Hannah Dineen asked how he was physically.
"I've got a big slash (on my leg) and I just came from the doctor's office...it was just a helluva night."
Police officials were seen moving robots towards the home around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday for what seemed to be a search of the home.
NEWS CENTER Maine's Sean Stackhouse reported hearing a boom and seeing smoke coming from the area of the home.
The ordeal began around 5:25 a.m. Monday when the Livermore Falls Police Department responded to a call of "forced entry" into a home on Knapp Street Monday morning, Livermore Falls Police Lt. Joseph Sage said.
From there assistance was requested from the Maine State Police Tactical Response Team. Throughout the hours immediately following, multiple state, county, federal, and municipal agencies, as well as agencies from New Hampshire and Massachusetts, converged on scene to offer assistance and resources.
Livermore Police Chief confirmed to NEWS CENTER Maine that an armed man, who was known to the family, entered the home and took four people hostage. One of those people was able to escape.
LIVERMORE FALLS HOSTAGE FAMILY REUNION
Sage said the Maine State Police TAC team was called in to negotiate. An armored tactical truck and officials from the Androscoggin County Sheriff's Office also arrived at the scene early in the day.
According to several sources, law enforcement help came from across New England, including special units from Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
One Massachusetts law enforcement source said they supplied local officials with equipment that was not available in Maine.
Debbie Pratt, a neighbor who said she knows the family that was held, said she saw everything happening early Monday morning when police arrived on scene and texted the owner of the house.
"And like I said I saw everything that was going on and I texted him, I said 'Ken what's going on? I see lots of police around,'" Pratt said, "and he never texted me back, and then I heard it was actually him and I was like oh my god!"
The situation became more unclear as rumors circulated that a bomb had been placed at a local school.
Spruce Mountain School District Superintendent Scott Albert said he heard from the school resource officer around 10 a.m. that the suspect "might have placed a bomb in one of our schools, so we went through our protocol, dismissed all of the kids, and got them all home," Albert said.
NEWS CENTER Maine is still at the scene and will provide updates when more information becomes available.