LEWISTON — A 36-year-old Livermore Falls man seriously injured in an exchange of gunfire in Lewiston last week was charged for his alleged role in the exchange, with charges against others involved in the shooting expected, police say.
Mickiel James has been charged with aggravated reckless conduct and reckless conduct with a firearm related to the Dec. 17 shooting in the area of Walnut and Pierce streets just before 3 p.m. James, who was struck during the exchange of gunfire, remains hospitalized.
Lewiston police responded to the scene after hearing shots and getting reports of numerous shots fired. According to police, witnesses reported all parties fled the scene following the shooting.
“While canvassing the area, police located a male who had suffered a serious gunshot wound. Police provided aid to the victim and transported him via cruiser to Central Maine Medical Center, where he was found to be in critical condition,” police said. Meanwhile, police temporarily shut down the area as investigators gathered evidence.
The next day, police identified the person who sustained the gunshot wound as James. Police also released surveillance photos of a group of people involved in the shooting.
On Tuesday, police released a statement saying they had filed the two reckless conduct charges against James.
James is known to police in the Twin Cities. In 2016, he was wanted for questioning in connection with a shooting where two people were struck by gunfire during a party on Bowdoin Street in Auburn. It does not appear that James was charged in connection with that shooting.
According to court records, James is from Massachusetts but has previously lived in Lewiston and in parts of Oxford County.
In 2018, James was one of nine people arrested in the Rumford area in a drug sweep that police said netted cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and $20,000 cash.
“This investigation remains active, and more arrests are expected,” the statement said. No other details were released.
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