A New England city was transformed by refugees – now it faces a youth gun violence crisis: 'Fear for my life'

Lewiston Grapples With Spike in Youth Gun Violence

By Maine News Now Staff

Lewiston, Maine – The city’s law‑enforcement leaders are sounding the alarm over a surge in shootings involving young people. Police records show 35 gun‑related incidents so far this year, with 22 of those alleged to have been committed by juveniles. The wave of violence has left many residents, including a local teenager, feeling unsafe in their own neighborhoods.

“Don’t feel safe. I fear for my life,” said Mohamed Muhumed, a Lewiston teen. He described seeing a confrontation on a sidewalk that left him shaken. “It’s crazy,” he added.

Lewiston Police Chief Carly Conley called the situation “one of the most serious public‑safety challenges” the department has faced. The chief’s comments come as the city has approved an additional $200,000 in police overtime to increase patrols and enforcement.

City officials have also begun pushing for changes to Maine’s juvenile justice system. They argue that more options are needed for repeat violent offenders and that courts should exercise greater caution before releasing high‑risk youths back onto the streets.

Mayor Carl Sheline, defending the new resources, said the city is “sending a strong message to those perpetrating gun violence: we will find you.” He also highlighted the importance of parental involvement, noting that “parental involvement and accountability are key to reducing youth gun violence in our city.”

The debate over how to address the problem has become a focal point in the upcoming mayoral race. Former city council president Rick LaChapelle, who is seeking the office, contends that the current system is failing. He pointed to cases where the same young offender has been arrested multiple times, only to be released quickly.

“Our biggest problem is the system itself,” LaChapelle said. “The police department is doing an excellent job catching these people. We have one young man that’s been arrested five times for the same thing. He gets arrested, gets brought down to the youth center… gets released.” He added that “it’s been a one‑party rule forever that has instilled the rules that there’s no accountability,” and called for a revamp of those rules.

While some community members have suggested a link between the city’s large Somali population and the rise in violence, officials stress that there is no data supporting such a connection. LaChapelle himself acknowledged that “that seems to be who's being arrested right now,” but he also recognized that the issue extends beyond any one group.

Mohamed Adbei, another local teenager, pushed back on any ethnic focus. “I wouldn’t just say it’s the Somali kids. It’s youth in general,” he said.

Ifraax Saciid, a Somali native who previously lived in Atlanta, also rejected a simplistic narrative. “No, that’s not the root cause. I think the root cause is poverty here in Lewiston. Lewiston is very poor and is economically not in a good state,” she explained. She compared the situation to other parts of the country, noting that “what’s happening here is happening everywhere. It’s happening in Atlanta. I have lived in Miami and Ohio and Kentucky and Minnesota and have seen what is happening in those states also happening here in Lewiston. It’s nothing new.”

The city’s demographic transformation began more than two decades ago, when refugees and secondary migrants from Somalia and other African nations began settling in the former mill town along the Androscoggin River. Former Mayor Larry Raymond drew national attention in 2002 when he asked Somali leaders to discourage further migration, warning that the rapid influx was straining city resources. In hindsight, Raymond’s concerns appear prescient to some, including reporter Jon Fetherston, who has written extensively on the issue.

Fetherston described the violence as “very concerning,” emphasizing that “the majority has been committed by teenagers. Multiple times teenagers have been arrested and immediately released by the courts back out on the streets.” He added that “the court systems are being tapped. The DA is frustrated that the courts aren't putting these kids away in jail. Residents are scared. Residents are very, very frustrated, and you've got kids shooting kids, and it's almost become commonplace here in Lewiston.”

Lewiston has also been embroiled in recent years in fraud scandals involving the state’s Medicaid program, though those matters are separate from the current gun‑violence surge.

City leaders say they are working to balance public safety with community concerns. Police patrols have been increased, and officials are calling for a broader discussion about how to reform juvenile justice while addressing the underlying economic challenges that many residents say are fueling the violence.

The mayor’s office did not respond to a request for comment before this article went to press.