NORTH WINDHAM, Maine — Authorities have confirmed that James Ford, the suspected gunman in Friday’s North Windham shooting, died from a self-inflicted injury after an hours-long manhunt that placed multiple communities under lockdown.
The violent incident began shortly before 2 p.m. on Route 302 when police received reports of gunfire. One individual was shot at the scene, prompting an immediate response from Windham Police and Cumberland County Sheriff’s deputies. The suspect fled in a silver vehicle toward Raymond, setting off a massive search effort.
By mid-afternoon, police located what they believed to be the suspect’s car abandoned in a Dunkin’ parking lot in Raymond. The discovery triggered a wide shelter-in-place order covering Route 85 in Raymond to Whites Bridge Road in Windham, including numerous side streets. Residents were urged to remain indoors and secure their homes, while businesses across North Windham went into lockdown.
Gray Fire Rescue later announced that the shelter order for their community had been lifted by evening, though restrictions remained in place in parts of North Windham and Raymond well into the night as officers searched the area. Route 302, a major corridor through the region, was closed for hours before reopening around 6:30 p.m.
During a late press briefing, officials confirmed that James Ford had been found deceased from a self-inflicted wound, bringing an end to the manhunt. Law enforcement emphasized that there was no longer any danger to the public.
Cumberland County Sheriff Kevin Joyce explained earlier in the day that Ford’s movements after abandoning the vehicle were unclear, leading authorities to establish a wide search perimeter. “Because the individual had a firearm, we felt it prudent to put a shelter-in-place warning out,” Joyce said. “He could have been on foot or obtained a ride before we arrived.”
The emergency response extended beyond the immediate area when Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) issued a public alert through the Integrated Public Alert & Warning System (IPAWS). Due to a technical error, the alert—intended for a localized area—was sent statewide, alarming residents far from the scene. MEMA later acknowledged the mistake, assuring Mainers they were working with the vendor to prevent future errors.
The identity of the shooting victim has not yet been released, and their condition remains unknown. Investigators continue to piece together the events that led to the shooting, while the North Windham community is left shaken by a day of fear, uncertainty, and tragic loss.