Sabattus Maine Shooting Leaves 3 Dead, 2 Wounded

Police say a Sabattus man opened fire on passing motorists after fatally shooting his mother.

Sabattus Man is Said to Have Been the Gunman

James Davis III, 29, of Sabattus, is the man police say is responsible for the 2 deaths and 2 victims who were taken to the hospital. Davis took his own life before police arrived.

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Among the 2 Victims Killed Was the Shooter's 47-Year-Old Mother

The deceased are Christine Smith, 47, and Katherine Williams, 53, both of Sabattus.

Maine State Police gave more information about what led up to the bizarre incident that unfolded just after 4:00 Wednesday afternoon in the 800 block of Middle Road, also known as Route 9, in Sabattus, during a press conference on Thursday afternoon.

Officials say that James Davis III had gone to his father's house, early in the day, where he interacted with his grandmother and other relatives. He was heavily armed when he arrived at the residence.

As the day progressed, family members said James became increasingly agitated, including saying things that didn't make sense.

When Davis's father arrived home, the family contacted James' mother, who the police described as his primary caregiver. James took the firearms with him when he got into his mother's car and, sometime during that ride, shot her as she drove in the intersection of Middle Road and King Road. The vehicle traveled across Middle Road before coming to a stop. Christine was pronounced deceased at the scene.

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Once James was out of the vehicle, he began shooting at passing cars with what the police described as an AK-47 rifle, hitting several people, including Katherine Williams. She was transported to Central Maine Medical Center, where she was pronounced deceased.

Two of the Motorists in Sabattus Were Hospitalized

Two other drivers, traveling in separate vehicles, were also hit by gunfire. 19-year-old Tyson Turner of Jay and 35-year-old David Wilson of Hartford were transported to Central Maine Medical Center and are expected to survive. Officials say there is no known connection between James Davis III and the three victims other than his mother.

James Davis then shot and killed himself.

The deceased were taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta for autopsies. This incident remains under investigation.

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