Maine shooting Grisly scene at Bowdoin home revealed as Joseph Eaton motive unknown

Cynthia Eaton, David Eaton, Patricia Eger and Robert Eger were named as the four victims killed

Four bodies found inside home connected to shooting on I-295, Yarmouth Police says

Court records in the Maine shooting spree revealed the grisly crime scene discovered by police called to the scene after suspect Joseph Eaton allegedly shot and killed four people, including his parents and their two friends.

The suspect appeared in court in West Bath on Thursday, his first appearance since the killings.

The victims, who all died of gunshot wounds, include his parents Cynthia Eaton, 62 and David Eaton, 66, and their friends Robert Eger, 72 and Patricia Eger, 62.

Court documents state that Patti’s sister visited the home at about 9am, finding drops of blood near the door, WABI reported.

Inside, she discovered a number of guns and bullet holes. She exited the home and called 911.

Police have said they found one victim in a barn and three others in the home. Court documents reveal that a dog was also shot at the scene.

Detectives searching the area also discovered a note stating that someone had been molested and that “there was nothing done about it”

The note also stated that someone had been freed of pain and that the author of the note wanted “a new life”.

The four victims are believed to have been killed one day before they were discovered on Tuesday morning.

Not long after the discovery, police responded to a shooting along a highway where Sean Halsey, 51, and his two children, Justin, 29, and Paige, 25, had all been shot.

They were transported to Maine Medical Center.

The father and son suffered injuries not considered life-threatening while Ms Halsey was in critical condition. Mr Halsey said on Wednesday afternoon that his daughter’s breathing tube had been removed and that she was on the road to recovery.

The car the suspect had been driving was rented by his parents at Portland Jetport when they arrived in the state on 13 April to collect their son upon his release from prison.

Mr Eaton didn’t enter a plea in court on Thursday. His next court date has been scheduled for 28 June.

Key points

• Suspect killed parents and their friends before going on highway shooting rampage
• Maine shooting spree: What we know about the deadly attacks on a home and highway
• Maine shooting suspect Joseph Eaton shot his parents and two others before opening fire on random highway
• Joseph Eaton’s grandmother reacts to horror Maine shooting spree as motive remains a mystery
• Maine shooting suspect Joseph Eaton left note about being ‘free’ after killing parents, two others and a dog

[20 April 2023 09:00 · AP]

‘It’s finally over. There are so many people I can’t wait to see'

On the day he was released from prison, the man believed to be Joseph Eaton posted on Facebook that he was feeling thankful. “It’s finally over. There are so many people I can’t wait to see.”

Moss confirmed that state police were aware of the video, and that it’s part of their investigation. Joseph Eaton, who was living in Bowdoin, was charged with four counts of murder but was not immediately charged in the highway shootings, she said. He was jailed while awaiting a court appearance. It was unclear if he had an attorney to speak on his behalf, a jail official said Wednesday.

Police declined to release more information about the investigation into the shootings, which they described as ongoing. They declined to speculate on a possible motive or the weapon that was used. The origins and ownership of the firearms used remain unclear.

Police declined to comment on Eaton’s living arrangements after leaving prison beyond saying his parents were helping him with accommodations. Police also did not comment on whether drugs or mental illness played a role in the killings.

[20 April 2023 10:00 · Rachel Sharp]

Maine shooting spree: What we know about the deadly attacks on a home and highway

Seven people were shot – four of them fatally – when a gunman embarked on a shooting spree across two different locations in Maine on Tuesday.

The horror incident first began at a home in Bowdoin where four victims were found dead before police were called to reports of a random shooting at cars on a nearby highway in Yarmouth.

Suspect Joseph Eaton, a 34-year-old convicted felon who was released from prison just days earlier, was arrested and charged with murder. Among the four victims shot dead in Maine were the suspect’s parents.

Now, the victims, their families and the communities of Bowdoin and Yarmouth are the latest to join a growing list impacted by gun violence in America.

Here’s what we know so far:

[20 April 2023 10:39 · Rachel Sharp]

Joseph Eaton confessed to killing parents and couple

Maine shooting spree suspect Joseph Eaton, 34, confessed to killing his parents and another couple at a home before opening fire on an interstate.

On Tuesday, four people who were found shot dead at a home in Bowdoin.

Soon after, police responded to a gunman shooting at cars along Interstate 295 in Yarmouth – wounding three people.

Mr Eaton was taken into custody on the scene where police said he confesssed to carrying out the attacks.

[20 April 2023 11:00 · Rachel Sharp]

Who is Joseph Eaton? Everything we know about Maine shooting spree suspect

Two communities in Maine were rocked this week when suspected gunman Joseph Eaton suddenly embarked on a shooting rampage – first at a home and then along an interstate.

Maine State Police said that officers were called to a house in the town of Bowdoin on Tuesday morning to find four victims dead from gunshot wounds.

Not long after the grim discovery was made, an assailant randomly opened fire on cars driving along Interstate 295 in nearby Yarmouth.

Three people were shot in the second attack – with one of them now in critical condition.

The alleged gunman was taken into custody on the scene.

[20 April 2023 11:30 · Rachel Sharp]

Paige Halsey: Update on victim’s condition

The three people injured in the highway shooting were named as Sean Halsey and his children, Justin Halsey and Paige Halsey.

Paige, 25, was in critical condition from the shooting.

However, on Wednesday, her father confirmed that her condition had improved and she is now able to breathe on her own.

“Everyone is currently making progress toward healing and we are optimistic for full recovery,” Sean Halsey told WMTW.

[20 April 2023 12:00 · Gustaf Kilander]

Maine shooting suspect Joseph Eaton shot his parents and two others before opening fire on random highway

Among the four victims shot dead in Maine were the suspect’s parents.

Joseph Eaton, 34, has been charged with four counts of murder after reportedly shooting and killing his father David Eaton, 66; his mother Cynthia Eaton, 62; and their friends Robert Eger, 72; and Patricia Eger, 62.

The suspect was released from prison just four days before he went on a rampage, shooting and killing those at the home and wounding another three people while driving down a highway.

The suspect left the Maine Correctional Center in Windham on Friday when he was picked up by his mother, according to the state authorities.

The shooting took place at the home of the Egers. Three of the bodies were found inside the home, while Mr Eaton’s father was found at the property in a “non-attached garage,” according to the authorities.

[20 April 2023 12:30 · Rachel Sharp]

‘Neighbors were texting, shocked that it happened, and to them’

In Bowdoin, Denise Pride, 58, a neighbor, said one of the victims was famous for delivering baked goods to neighbors on holidays. “They were very kind people,” Pride said. “The neighbors were texting, shocked that it happened, and to them.”

A relative to the family shot on the highway, Ian Halsey of Bowdoinham, said that two of his cousins were shot and that his uncle suffered shrapnel injuries. None of the family knew the shooter, he said.

“They were just passersby in the wrong place at the wrong time,” he said of his family. “It’s horrible what happened.”

[20 April 2023 13:00 · Rachel Sharp]

Maine shooting spree: What we know about the deadly attacks on a home and highway

Seven people were shot – four of them fatally – when a gunman embarked on a shooting spree across two different locations in Maine on Tuesday.

The horror incident first began at a home in Bowdoin where four victims were found dead before police were called to reports of a random shooting at cars on a nearby highway in Yarmouth.

Suspect Joseph Eaton, a 34-year-old convicted felon who was released from prison just days earlier, was arrested and charged with murder. Among the four victims shot dead in Maine were the suspect’s parents.

Now, the victims, their families and the communities of Bowdoin and Yarmouth are the latest to join a growing list impacted by gun violence in America.

Here’s what we know so far:

[20 April 2023 13:30 · Rachel Sharp]

Joseph Eaton’s rap sheet revealed:

Joseph Eaton has a lengthy rap sheet going back more than a decade before Tuesday’s shooting spree and was only released from prison four days before Tuesday’s attack.

Past convictions include burglary, felony aggravated assault, domestic violence and violence against a law enforcement officer, as well as possessing a weapon as a felon.

Most recently, he was sentenced to eight months in prison for assault in March 2022. He was then returned to prison for violating his probation.

On Friday, he was released from Maine Correctional Center in Windham – just four days before he allegedly went on his killing rampage.

Based on his felony convictions, he also could not legally own a firearm.

[20 April 2023 14:00 · Rachel Sharp]

Chilling video shared by suspect

Mr Eaton shared an emotional video of himself online on Monday where he said that people think he is “just another f*** up” and complained about people who “claim to be Christian”.

In the footage, he is seen sitting in a car filming himself as he chokes up with tears and goes on a confusing ramble.

“I’m probably going to get emotional just talking about it,” he said.

“But a lot of people look at you and think ‘oh well there’s just another f*** up, another guy that can’t get his stuff together, treats people like s***’ and then they turn around and claim to be Christian.

“And you can’t forgive somebody or understand what they go through. You can’t give someone a second chance but you say you’re Christian. How does that make sense? Why can’t you just try to get to know the person again? What good’s it do to hate somebody? It destroys you.