LEWISTON — Three teens 15 and 16 years old have been arrested on conspiracy to commit murder charges after allegedly shooting at an apartment house on Pierce Street.

In all, police charged five juveniles in connection with the Saturday night shooting at 125 Pierce St.

Three of the teens, a pair of 16-year-olds and a 15-year-old, were charged with the more serious charge of conspiracy to commit murder. Each was also charged with violating conditions of release from previous arrests.

Police said the trio had fired at intended victims in the rear of the Pierce Street apartment house. Investigators found bullet holes in the side of the building, police said, along with spent shell casings.

The victims of the alleged attack told police they had been warned earlier they might be gunned down that evening.

Witnesses to the Saturday night shooting described hearing rapid-fire shots in the area about 11 p.m.

“It sounded like someone emptied a handgun,” one woman said.

Another woman reported hearing “multiple, rapid-fire shots” in the area.

When police arrived at the scene, the suspects had fled. No victims were found to have been struck by gunfire.

Detectives worked on the case throughout the weekend and ultimately zeroed in on a number of suspects.

The trio charged with conspiracy to commit murder were taken to Long Creek Youth Correctional Center in South Portland.

Police charged a 14-year-old with violating conditions of release from an earlier incident.

On Monday afternoon, police were questioning a fifth suspect who was arrested as part of the investigation. It was not immediately clear what that suspect was being charged with.

Police did not say what motivated the shooting, but indicated it was retaliatory in nature.

Over recent weeks, police have arrested numerous teens, some as young as 13, in connection with shootings and other downtown violence. The police department is using saturation patrols and emerging technology to combat the problem of youth violence, which has been on the rise since late winter.

“I am thankful for the police department’s excellent detective work that resulted in apprehending the juveniles before another shooting could take place,” Lewiston Mayor Carl Sheline said. “This recent cycle of gun violence is dangerous and causing harm to our community. Please contact detectives with any information you have about the case. Our anonymous tip line is also available.”

The investigation into the Saturday night shooting, police said, is ongoing. Police asked that anyone with information related to the incident to email Lewiston police Detective Dominic Cloutier at [email protected].