GORHAM — Police are releasing little information about a Friday night shooting that occurred during a confrontation between a homeowner and teenager during an alleged arson attempt.
According to police, a 14-year-old boy, whose identity is being withheld, was shot Friday night after he tried to set fire to a house at 8 Mountview Drive. Police said the teenager was shot as the homeowner and a witness interrupted the arson attempt around 11:45 p.m.
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Police did not release the names of the homeowner or witness. The home is owned by Craig Bassingthwaite, a Gorham Grizzlies football coach and board member of the Gorham Football Boosters.
Police said the boy was taken to Maine Medical Center in Portland. They did not believe his injuries were life-threatening. No charges have been filed, but the incident remains under investigation, police said.
The shooting occurred in a quiet neighborhood of upscale homes and well-manicured lawns. Gorham police said they believe they have identified all parties involved in the incident and do not believe they pose any immediate danger to others.
Danny Young of the state Fire Marshal’s Office on Saturday described the incident as an attempt to start a fire. Authorities were not saying Sunday whether there was any connection between the attempted arson and a series of six suspicious fires that began March 27.
Unlike Friday’s incident, those fires involved vacant buildings around town. The most recent arson, on April 18, targeted an unoccupied house on Route 237. The town has offered a $10,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the arsons.
Bassingthwaite lives in the Mountview Drive home with his wife, Tracey, and their three sons, according to his biography on the football boosters website. He spent the past three years as an assistant football coach and also has coached basketball and baseball.
Bassingthwaite works for Acadia Insurance and volunteers in the Gorham school system, according to the biography.
He did not return emails or calls to his cellphone Sunday. His home phone has been disconnected.
Police have asked anyone with information about the incident to contact them at 222-1660.
Staff Writer Gillian Graham can be contacted at 791-6315 or at:
ggraham@mainetoday.com
Twitter: grahamgillian
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