Maine Murder Suspect Sets Fire to His Own Vehicle During Standoff

A Benton man is charged with murder for the death of a man in Fairfield last week.

Who Was Arrested?

Raheem Shamar Goodwin, 22, of Benton was arrested on Tuesday night and charged with murder.

What Do We Know About the Deceased?

The charges stem from the death of Edwin Weeks, 62, of Fairfield, who was found deceased by a friend when they stopped by to check on him. Fairfield Police were called to the home at 247A Main Street in Fairfield just after 3:30 Tuesday afternoon, November 28th.

Weeks' body was taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for an autopsy and his death was ruled a homicide. Officials say he died of sharp force trauma. An investigation into the circumstances of the death led police to consider Raheem Goodwin a person of interest in the case.

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How Was Goodwin Taken Into Custody?

On Tuesday night, detectives tried to pull over a vehicle being driven in Skowhegan by Goodwin that was traveling towards Canaan on Route 2. Maine Department of Public Safety spokesperson Shannon Moss says Goodwin intentionally drove his vehicle into a ditch and then barricaded himself inside. A short time later, he lit the interior of his vehicle on fire. Law enforcement officers at the scene took Goodwin into custody after he got out of the vehicle.

He was transported to the Somerset County Jail during the early morning hours on Wednesday, where he was held on a bail violation and for eluding an officer. Once the Chief Medical Examiner's findings were released, Goodwin was charged with Murder. Officials say the two men were familiar with each other.

This investigation is ongoing.

We'll update this story as more details become available.