LEWISTON — Police are putting significant resources into stopping the gunfire incidents that have plagued the city in the past week, and they are seeing results, Chief Carly Conley said Friday.

Police in recent days have arrested 12 juveniles and three adults for violent crimes or gun-related offenses and seized seven firearms, four of which were stolen, Conley said.

“We have strategically reallocated personnel and resources to heighten police visibility and proactively patrol areas of concern,” Conley said. “By combining increased saturation details with our department’s advanced investigative and technological tools, we are seeing tangible results in our efforts to curb violence. … Our intensified focus over the past week has led to significant enforcement success.”

Her comments came a day after a 14-year-old boy was found shot in the leg on Avon Street, and hours after a 13-year-old was charged in the shooting.

The shooting was the latest in a string of incidents involving juveniles and gunfire in Lewiston that have reignited questions about gun violence in the city, and brought calls for tougher action against the perpetrators.

Conley said Lewiston police have been working closely with partners at the Androscoggin District Attorney’s Office and juvenile community corrections officers.

Corrections officers have authorized the detention of 11 juveniles in just under a week, Conley said.

“While these arrests represent a significant step forward, our work is not done,” Conley said. “We will continue to use every resource at our disposal to protect the city of Lewiston and hold those who choose violence accountable for their actions.”

The arrests in the crackdown include a teen charged in the Avon Street shooting, and a 16-year-old arrested Thursday for his role in an April 29 gunfire incident on Pierce Street. On May 2, two juveniles found with firearms were charged with carrying concealed weapons. Later that weekend, two adults were charged with gun-related crimes.

Until Thursday, however, no one had been hit in the recent spate of gunfire.

Around 4:30 p.m. that day, police responded to reports of screams and gunfire near 4 Avon St., according to a Lewiston Police Department Facebook post. 

On arrival, police discovered a 14-year-old male suffering from a gunshot wound to the leg. The youth was transported to Central Maine Medical Center, where he was in stable condition.

After several hours of investigation, police identified and arrested a 13-year-old male. The juvenile was charged with elevated aggravated assault. 

Police also arrested a 15-year-old male involved in the incident and charged him with carrying a concealed weapon, a handgun. Both juveniles are being held at Long Creek Youth Development Center. 

Witnesses to the incident said as many as a dozen teens scattered from the area after a volley of at least six shots were fired.

The teen who appeared to be hit by the gunfire was seen stumbling toward an apartment building before collapsing in a driveway.

Travis Johnson, who lives near the scene of the shooting, said he found a handgun in the grass while walking his dog around the time of the shooting. The weapon was a semiautomatic pistol with an extended magazine. Johnson turned the gun over to police.

Several residents have lamented that violence has reached the once quiet neighborhood, prompting great concern. Scott Dunn shared that he moved to the neighborhood five years ago because it was known to be absent of crime and violence.

“And now these shootings are spreading out to this part of the city, too,” Dunn said. “We’re all sick of it. I don’t even want to live here anymore. I have a family so I’ll do whatever needs to be done.”

One Facebook user, Pauline Gudas, remarked Friday morning that in the past week throughout the city, some nine juveniles had been arrested for violent offenses.

“Our city is falling into the gutter,” Gudas said. “Parents need to be charged with endangering the welfare of a child and possible child neglect. If parents are unwilling to parent then lock these kids up. Take away any and all social (welfare) benefits from them including housing, food stamps and EBT. Hold the parents responsible.”

Thursday evening on Facebook, Lewiston City Councilor Joshua Nagine of Ward 1 said “enough is enough.”

“The eroding conditions and behaviors have to stop,” Nagine said. “All forms of gun violence need to be treated as the actual dangers they pose to our community by the courts, and the Maine Youth Criminal Justice system HAS TO hold juveniles making horrible adult decisions in our city that endanger themselves and others to account.”

Friday morning, Lewiston Mayor Carl Sheline shared the Lewiston Police Department’s update and praised the department for its work in the arrests.

“The recent youth gun violence that has rocked our city is unacceptable and untenable,” Sheline said Thursday evening. “We need to continue to work with at-risk youth and also provide support and resources for parents. These kids should be shooting hoops, not shooting each other.”

Police shared that three handguns were seized during the investigation, two of which were stolen. 

The investigation is ongoing and further charges may be coming, police said. 

Anyone with information about shooting incidents can reach out to Detective David Allen at 207-513-0001, ext. 3319.