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18-year-old accused of shooting man, woman in the face in Lewiston, police say

LEWISTON, Maine —

An 18-year-old faces multiple charges after police say he shot two people in the face in Lewiston late Wednesday night.

Ahmed Yussuf has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault and two counts of reckless conduct in connection with the shootings, according to the Lewiston Police Department.

Police said officers responded to the intersection of Oak and Holland streets shortly before 11:05 p.m. Wednesday after receiving a report that a man had been shot in the face.

Responding officers found a 60-year-old man suffering from an apparent facial injury. The man told police that he was walking when a black or dark blue SUV pulled alongside him. According to the man, several people inside the SUV were yelling at him and when he turned toward the vehicle, he saw one of the passengers point what appeared to be a firearm in his direction. The man told police he then heard a pop, felt immediate pain and realized he was bleeding from his face. The SUV fled the area immediately after the shooting.

Police said about 10 minutes after they responded to the shooting, shortly before 11:15 p.m., officers were still rendering aid to the victim when they received a report that a 34-year-old woman had been shot in the face near the intersection of Walnut and Bartlett streets. Officers who responded to the second shooting — which happened about a half-mile away from the first — reported that the woman had been shot in the mouth, and that she was on the ground cowering in a fetal position.

Both shooting victims were transported to Central Maine Medical Center for treatment, but due to the severity of their injuries, both were later transferred to Maine Medical Center in Portland. Police said the victims were expected to undergo surgery to remove the projectiles from their faces and necks. The man has since been discharged from the hospital, but the woman remains hospitalized and was in serious condition as of Thursday morning, according to police.

Investigators said they were able to quickly identify the suspect vehicle by using the city of Lewiston's camera system and FLOCK technology, and determined that Yussuf was the suspected shooter.

Yussuf appeared in Lewiston District Court on Thursday. Judge Maria Woodman set bail at $25,000.

"They are absolutely reckless random acts of violence," Woodman said in court. "There is nothing that is more terrifying to the public than this type of violence."

Authorities are still searching for the weapon used in the shootings. Police said that based on the victims' injuries and the preliminary assessment from medical staff and investigators, they believe Yussuf shot the victims. Officials noted, however, that the types of projectiles used in the shooting will not be confirmed until they are removed from both victims and examined by investigators.

District Attorney Neil McLean said the shootings come at a time when teen violence is on the rise in Lewiston, which is Maine's second-largest city.

"The public is generally afraid to go outside of their homes. Parents are afraid to let their children go use parks," McLean said during Thursday's court proceedings. "It's this kind of conduct that has an entire community living in fear."

The investigation into the shooting remains active. Authorities are encouraging anyone with additional information related to the incident to call the Lewiston Police Department.

Police also thanked the District Attorney's Office for its assistance and collaboration throughout the early morning hours of the investigation, noting their responsiveness and support were instrumental in bringing the case to a swift conclusion.

https://www.wmtw.com/article/lewiston-maine-people-shot-in-face-teen-arrested/71806411

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