South Portland Police Make Arrest in December Shooting Near Maine Mall, One Suspect Still At Large

by Edward Tomic | Jan 16, 2025

A Buxton man was arrested by South Portland Police on Tuesday in connection to a December shooting incident near the Maine Mall in which a vehicle was struck by gunfire.

The shooting incident occurred during the afternoon on Dec. 18, when an altercation broke out in the parking lot of a steakhouse adjacent to the Maine Mall, police said.

Shots were fired and hit a vehicle at the intersection of Gorham Road and Western Avenue in connection to the argument that started at Kobe Steakhouse, though no one was injured in the shooting.

Police identified two suspects in connection to the shooting, 21-year-old Navinn Ean of Westbrook, and 21-year-old Jonathan Hanson of Buxton.

A blue Dodge Charger was also believed to have been involved in the incident, and was located at an address in Naples just days after the shooting on Dec. 23.

Law enforcement executed a search warrant at 6 Right Way in Naples later that night. While neither of the two suspects were present, police impounded the Dodge Charger and obtained potential evidence from the shooting.

On Tuesday, Jan. 14, the Buxton Police Department attempted to make a traffic stop on a pickup truck for an unrelated traffic offense. Police suspected the owner of the truck to have possible ties to the South Portland shooting.

When police attempted to stop the pickup truck, the driver allegedly accelerated away in an apparent attempt to avoid contact with police.

The vehicle was tracked to an address on Haines Meadow Road in Buxton that police believe also knew was tied to the two shooting suspects.

Upon further investigation, police came to suspect that one of the two suspects, Jonathan Hanson, was inside the residence.

Police used a loudspeaker system to attempt to make contact with Hanson, who eventually emerged from the residence and was taken into custody at about 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

Hanson was charged with reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon, criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon, criminal mischief and terrorizing.

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21-year-old Jonathan Hanson of Buxton | Source: Cumberland County Jail

Hanson was arraigned on Wednesday and his bail was set at $10,000 cash.

Police say that the second suspect, Navinn Ean, is still at large. In a December press release, South Portland Police said they have probable cause to charge Ean with reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon, criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon, driving to endanger, and three counts of violating conditions of release.

“The investigation continues. SPPD would like to thank law enforcement partners in Buxton and Cumberland County for their continued assistance and vigilance in locating the suspects in this case,” South Portland Police said Wednesday.

Edward Tomic is a reporter for The Maine Wire based in Southern Maine. He grew up near Boston, Massachusetts and is a graduate of Boston University. He can be reached at [email protected]

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