The South Portland Police announced late Thursday afternoon that they had arrested 20-year-old Ahmed Basheer Awad, who is suspected of injuring a man in a Wednesday shooting at the Maine Mall.
South Portland Police, along with numerous other law enforcement agencies and emergency services, responded to the Maine Mall shortly before 4 p.m. on Wednesday for a reported shooting in the mall’s food court.
A male victim in his late-20s was found at the scene with a gunshot wound to his right leg. The victim was taken the Maine Medical Center and was “doing well” after surgery, according to an update from police.
At a press conference Thursday morning, South Portland Police Chief Dan Ahern said investigators were unsure whether Awad was even in the State of Maine, and that they were still actively looking for him.
Ahern said that Awad had been recently encountered in South Portland and was believed to be living out of his vehicle.
Police say that they received information later on Thursday that Awad, who was now wanted on a warrant for felony elevated aggravated assault, wanted to “turn himself in to police so there could be a safe and peaceful resolution for all involved.”
South Portland detectives worked with Awad through a third party to take him into custody without incident outside of the Cumberland County Jail at about 3:30 p.m. on Thursday.
Awad was charged with elevated aggravated assault, Class A; reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon, Class C; and carrying a concealed/threatening display of a weapon, a Class D misdemeanor.
He is being held at the Cumberland County Jail on $100,000 cash bail pending arraignment, which is scheduled for Friday at 1 p.m.
Police say the firearm Awad allegedly used in the shooting has not yet been recovered.
0 Comments