LITCHFIELD — Police are investigating a shooting early Monday afternoon at a home on Academy Road in Litchfield.
Police responded to the home for a report of a man suffering from a gunshot wound, according to Steve McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety.
The man walked to an ambulance and was taken to a hospital in Lewiston.
By Monday evening McCausland said the detectives determined the gunshot was self-inflicted. The victim is expected to survive his injuries and it is unclear at this point if charges will be brought.
At 2:40 p.m., Maine State Troopers began putting up yellow tape to cordon off the driveway at 277 Academy Road just beyond the overpass that crosses the Maine Turnpike and not far from the Bowdoin line.
A blue Sebring was parked on the front lawn of the home.
Shortly afterward a detective appeared to go to at least one neighboring home and then return to confer with another investigator.
Litchfield schools, located less than 2 miles away, were locked down following the report of the shooting on Academy Road. The brief lockdown was ordered about 1:10 p.m. and lifted at 1:30 p.m.
It did not appear children were present at the schools. The first student day for grades kindergarten through 9 in Regional School Unit 4 is Aug. 30.
An ambulance was called to the Academy Road scene and numerous police units responded, including state police detectives.
Trudy Lamoreau and others at the Town Office praised emergency responders for getting to the scene so rapidly. Lamoreau said Litchfield Fire and Rescue volunteers were on the scene within five minutes and Gardiner Rescue, which transports people to hospitals was there within seven minutes.
“The response was remarkable,” she said.
At the scene, Trooper Eric Verhille confirmed that police were investigating an incident, but he declined to provide more information. There were about six police vehicles at the scene, which is in a rural area at the end of Hallowell Road.
The brown house, with green trim, is owned by Judith A. McPherson, who lives there with her husband Scott D. McPherson, 56, and a daughter.
Initial police scanner reports indicated that a man called 911 reporting that he was shot in the head, but officials have not yet confirmed that detail.
Staff Writer Keith Edwards contributed to this report.
Betty Adams — 621-5631
Twitter: @betadams
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