LEWISTON — A Lewiston man accused of fatally shooting a man and holding police at bay for hours Nov. 4, 2023, pleaded guilty to a manslaughter charge Thursday.

Jerry Thibodeau, 38, entered the plea in Androscoggin County Superior Court. He was originally charged with murder in the death of 40-year-old Anthony Ayotte.

According to court documents, at about 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 3, 2023, Ayotte was dropped off at the emergency room at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center. He was treated for multiple gunshot wounds and died the next morning.

Detectives from the Lewiston Police Department and Maine State Police conducted interviews and collected evidence, which led to an arrest warrant for Thibodeau.

Investigators believe Thibodeau, who apparently knew Ayotte, had dropped him off at the hospital after shooting him.

When police went to Thibodeau’s home on outer Sabattus Street on Nov. 4, he refused to come out, police said, prompting the Maine State Police Tactical Team and Crisis Negotiation Team to respond.

A standoff continued for more than five hours before Thibodeau was taken into custody.

It is expected Thibodeau will be sentenced later this month.