A Maine man was arrested after he allegedly shot at a group of teenagers playing ding-dong-ditch, injuring one of them.
Deputies responded to Harrison around 1 a.m. Saturday after numerous reports of gunshots and screaming. Deputies arrived on scene to find blood on the roadway, as a teen walked into the hospital with a gunshot wound. Just happened to turn over in bed and saw the time, it was 1 a.m. Then, I heard a gunshot, and I know its not hunting season, neighbor Corinne Martin said.
Authorities say a group of teens were playing a prank called ding-dong-ditch at several houses in the area. At the fourth house, the homeowner allegedly opened fire with a 9 mm handgun, firing about 14 rounds and hitting one of the teens in the leg.
The teen went to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
In my mind, the kids should not have been doing what they were doing. However, the individual bringing a firearm and shooting at kids while theyre fleeing is obviously a problem, as well, said Cumberland County Sheriff Kevin Joyce.
Authorities identified the homeowner as 30-year-old Vincent Martin. He is facing multiple charges, including assault and reckless conduct with a firearm.
People are construing the fact that they can defend their residence, their family, et cetera and maybe taking it a little over the limit in this particular case.
Were living in a world where it just seems like everybody is on edge, Joyce said.
Although ding-dong-ditch is not illegal, the sheriff says theres still a lesson to be learned here.
This innocent prank needs to be put on a shelf somewhere and never visited again, he said.
Martins bail was set at $5,000. A judge ordered him not to use or purchase firearms or ammunition and not to have any contact with the teens involved in the incident.