SACO, Maine — Police in Saco issued a shelter-in-place notice Friday afternoon after suspects fled the scene of an alleged shooting and crash downtown, but the order was lifted shortly before 8 p.m.
Police asked that people avoid the downtown area, after a shooting between two vehicles and a subsequent collision of those vehicles into each other. Thornton Academy and Biddeford schools also sheltered in place, with Thornton Academy going into a brief lockdown, due to proximity to the situation.
Saco police issued a news release around 7:45 p.m. stating that the shelter-in-place order had been lifted despite three possible suspects accused of fleeing the scene of the crash not being in police custody.
The collision involved a red Dodge Charger and gray Honda HRV at the intersection of Elm and Temple streets shortly before noon, and the force of the crash caused the Honda to crash into another vehicle stopped at the intersection and then into a school bus also stopped at the intersection, police said. No injuries were reported by any of the students on the bus.
One of the people who fled the scene was believed to have been shot, based on witness reports and photos obtained by police.
In a press conference held shortly after 4 p.m., Saco Police Chief Jack Clements said a vehicle, later identified as a Honda HRV, was impounded, and a firearm was apparently recovered from that vehicle, which the chief said "appears to be a semiautomatic handgun."
Clements said several police departments in the area responded, including Kittery, Biddeford, Westbrook, and Scarborough.
U.S. Marshals said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that they were aiding Saco police with an incident involving "fleeing suspects in a crash."
Maine Department of Public Safety spokesperson Shannon Moss confirmed with NEWS CENTER Maine that a few units with Maine State Police were at the scene, but the case was being handled by Saco.
The second vehicle, the red Dodge Charger, was found outside Saco but did not specify the community where it was found, police said in the news release issued Friday evening. However, Cumberland County Sheriff's Office Capt. Brian Ackerman said in a news release issued around 8:15 p.m. that they were alerted that a vehicle involved in the Saco incident may be in Standish. That vehicle was found during a search at a residence off Route 25, but no suspects were located.
"There is no current information to suggest the suspects from the Saco incident are or were in the area," the release stated. "At this time, there are no known threats to the residents in the town of Standish."
The vehicle was removed from Standish by Saco police.
"We are also aware of footage circulating on social media regarding a dark-colored vehicle with tinted windows seen near the three pictured individuals after they fled; this vehicle has been identified and is part of the ongoing investigation," police said Monday in an updated release.
Thornton Academy and Biddeford schools sheltered in place Friday, because of their proximity to the apparent incident, but school officials said classes would otherwise continue as normal.
In a post on Facebook, Thornton Academy was briefly in full lockdown around 1:30 p.m., but that was lessened to a shelter-in-place order shortly before 2:30 p.m.
The school shared an update about dismissal and student safety around 2:45 p.m.
"Everyone on campus is safe," the school said in a post on Facebook. "The situation in Saco continues to evolve. We have moved back to a shelter in place, which means they are free to access restrooms, etc. We continue to have a strong police presence on and around our campus. We are working with the Saco Police Department to determine when we will be able to dismiss students. We hope to have information on that soon. Thank you for your patience and please know that your students are safe."
Thornton Academy shared an update around 4 p.m. noting that students who drove to school have been dismissed, and they would begin dismissing students who rode the bus.
"They will be escorted by police from the building to the bus," school officials said of bus riders.
School officials asked that parents and guardians who planned to transport students or students who walk be picked up in the parking lot next to the football stadium, and that parents or guardians should access the campus through the Main Street entrance.
Thornton Academy's athletic administrator posted on X that all after-school athletic activities were canceled.
According to a release shared with Biddeford schools community members that was obtained by NEWS CENTER Maine, the "hold-in-place" would be released at 2:10 p.m., and after-school activities at the middle and high schools would go on as scheduled. They also made note that buses could be delayed.
Saco police ask that anyone with information about the location of the suspects, the shooting, or the crashes to contact them by email at SacoPD@sacomaine.org or by calling 207-284-4535.
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