PORTLAND, Maine — Portland police lifted a shelter in place around 3 p.m. for people in the area of The Residences on Allen Avenue after the individual inside a residence where a suspected gunshot was heard was found dead.
Local police were called to the area Friday morning after Gorham detectives heard what they believed was a gun being shot inside the residence where they were attempting to serve court papers to an individual there, Portland police said.
The area was closed off to travel until about 3 p.m., and police urged people to seek alternate routes.
The incident had no impact on Portland public schools, school spokesperson Tess Nacelewicz said in a release.
Police shared an update Friday afternoon noting they were working with schools to ensure students would have safe and alternate routes to get home.
Robert Martin, assistant police chief with the Portland Police Department, told reporters at the scene shortly after 1 p.m. Friday afternoon that Portland officers with their department responded to assist the Gorham detectives at the scene, who reported hearing a gunshot while they were attempting to serve papers at a condominium at The Residences at 459 Allen Ave.
Martin said he did not know at the time the specifics about the court papers, nor did he share information pertaining to the suspect. He said later during an update around 3 p.m. that he did not believe the papers were an arrest warrant or "anything of that nature."
It was, however, believed the individual was in the residence and was alone, Martin added.
Portland responded to the scene Friday morning with police dogs, its Special Reaction Team, and its Crisis Negotiation Team. The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office also had at least one police dog unit at the scene. Falmouth police said they were there only to assist in the closure of Allen Avenue.
Martin said law enforcement deployed a loud noise during attempts to communicate with the individual inside and has also deployed a robot, all in an effort to establish communications with the person before attempting to enter the home.
Martin said during the 3 p.m. update that robots deployed inside the residence were unable to go up the stairs but were able to clear the ground level, prompting the use of a police dog.
According to Martin, the robot showed that the police dog "discovered something," so the SRT team then made entry to the building, where they found the individual deceased shortly before 3 p.m.
Initial investigation suggests the person died by suicide, but the official cause and manner of death will be determined by the Maine chief medical examiner's office, Martin said.
There are several resources available to people who are in crisis or emotional distress that are free and confidential.
They include the Maine Crisis Line: 1-888-568-1112. You can also dial 711. The suicide and crisis lifeline is also available at 988.
