The most recent shooting in downtown Lewiston was caught on video, and has since been widely disseminated.

A still-unidentified male walks slowly up to a sidewalk across the street from Maine Immigrant and Refugee Services on Bartlett Street, points a gun at the building, and fires several rounds.

The video added to feelings of unease and outright fear in Lewiston as the number of shooting incidents continues to grow. At the time, the Bartlett Street shooting was the third in a four-day span, and continued a trend of incidents in that particular area of downtown.

According to Lewiston police, there have been 21 confirmed “shots fired” incidents this year through July 25, with five people struck and one death. In 2024, there were 20 such incidents during the same period, and a total of 35 for the year, with four people struck and one death.

City Administrator Bryan Kaenrath, who has been holding monthly sessions with the public since he started in May, has said residents are united in their concern for public safety and wanting to feel safe in their neighborhoods and downtown.

In a recent letter to councilors, Kaenrath said he has found the city’s issues to be “even deeper and more problematic that I initially thought.”

“The stories I’ve heard and genuine fear residents have expressed to me directly is sobering,” he said. “There are also so many people here who love this city, want to believe in this city but are genuinely down about our current direction and do not see any reason for hope. Creating a safer, more livable and cleaner city must be our number one priority and must be our cause.”

Following the string of shooting incidents, the Sun Journal reached out to every member of the City Council and asked them to weigh in on the recent violence, fear among constituents and what can be done to turn the tide. Some said that the violence and sense of fear has almost become a new normal, and that they are desperately trying to push back.

The following comments from officials were chosen from emailed responses to the Sun Journal compiled over the last week, and edited for length and clarity.

What do you say when people tell you they are too scared to live in or visit parts of Lewiston, including downtown?

JOSH NAGINE, WARD 1: First, it’s heartbreaking and disheartening. The perceptions around community safety are complex, but perception is reality for our community and the perception of public safety directly impacts our businesses and public spaces, as well as community mental health, sense of place and interest in public engagement.

And I would also say many of these fears for downtown residents are valid, as the number of shooting incidents and the very public spaces they have been happening in for the past few years have posed a threat to individual personal safety.

SUSAN LONGCHAMPS, WARD 2: Lately, it’s been difficult to offer the same sense of hope and reassurance I once gave so easily. The violence we’re witnessing is not just a passing concern — it is a growing problem that worsens with each week. What’s most distressing is that much of this violence is occurring in the Tree Street neighborhood, a community already burdened by poverty and limited resources. We cannot ignore the reality any longer.

SCOTT HARRIMAN, WARD 3: I feel for them because there are real concerns. We’ve seen an increase in gun violence over the past few years, for one example. But I would ask them to make sure they’re basing their opinions on residents’ real experiences and to fact-check the rumors they may hear. People love to have somebody to pick on, and there is a lot of misinformation about Lewiston spread by people who often don’t live here.

MICHAEL ROY, WARD 4, did not respond to questions from the Sun Journal.

ERYN SOULE-LECLAIR, WARD 5: I get it. Fear is real. When people tell me they’re scared, I don’t brush it off. I live here too. I hear the same sirens, read the same news reports, and talk to the same folks who are just trying to raise their families in peace here. Gun violence, addiction and homelessness are serious issues, and they can shake your sense of safety. But, it’s not just here.

DAVID CHITTIM, WARD 6: When someone tells me they’re afraid to go into parts of our city, I don’t dismiss it. I remind them that we’re not powerless to do something about it. Fear cannot metastasize into paralysis. It is the collective response we choose to mount that matters …

Lewiston is confronting the same challenges seen in every city in Maine — Portland, Bangor, Augusta, Waterville — with the same complex intersections of housing insecurity, poverty, addiction and trauma.

I don’t deny that substantial challenges exist. What we’re facing is a systemic challenge and the response must be equally systemic: multi-agency, sustained and community-informed.

The most effective response to fear isn’t retreat, it’s presence. It’s showing up, together, and reclaiming our public spaces.

People deserve to feel safe, and it is the responsibility of municipal leadership to address both the reality and the perception of public safety.

TIM GALLANT, WARD 7: I try not to respond by not absorbing their emotions. I also try to check and answer their concerns with facts that I am aware of or have them contact the appropriate department or individuals for their answers. Additionally, I will explain how I feel and why.

MAYOR CARL SHELINE: I understand people are concerned and I hear them. We’ve taken immediate measures – such as increased patrols and proactive policing – to address gun violence in our city and we aren’t going to let up.

How do you think city officials should respond?

NAGINE: I don’t think it’s a one-size-fits-all solution. Building trust and faith in our institutions and our public safety professionals is a priority, as well as targeted proactive enforcement details to address public safety concerns.

Absolutely no one in this city wants to be the target of violent crimes, so we need to respond as a community to address these challenges, where everyone is part of the solution. My role as an elected official is to advocate for an approach that has community buy-in and produces results while representing the will and needs of my constituents in a fair, practical, and equitable manner.

The actual plans concerning the how, why and where we need a different community engaged enforcement approach need to come from our public safety professionals, specifically leadership within the police department, and vetted and supported by the public and elected officials.

LONGCHAMPS: As a Lewiston city councilor and concerned member of this community, I can no longer stay silent about the crisis we are facing: the alarming rise in gun violence — particularly among our youth.

Violence should never become normal or acceptable in any city or community — especially ours. Yet in Lewiston, we are dangerously close to that point. Families are afraid to let their children play outside. Parents keep their kids in the back of their apartments out of fear that a stray bullet could enter their lives at any moment. This is not safe. This is not how we should be living.

I continue to reassure the public that the Lewiston Police Department is doing all they can — even while being critically understaffed by officers. But public safety is not just the job of law enforcement. It takes all of us. If you see something, say something. Community involvement is vital if we are to curb this violence and rebuild trust.

However, a major roadblock stands in our way: our justice system is failing us — and failing our youth. When juveniles are arrested for serious crimes, they are often denied entry into Long Creek Youth Development Center and sent back home. The courts are struggling to prosecute them. There are little to no consequences. This is unacceptable.

Accountability is not punishment — it is structure, safety, and ultimately, care. By failing to hold juveniles and adults responsible for these violent acts, we are not protecting our community or helping those who need it most. We are enabling further harm.

HARRIMAN: We need to ensure that our police leadership focus on reducing the real crimes happening here and building the missing relationship with the community. People who have a positive, trusting relationship with our police department are more willing to come forward when they have information that would help them.

SOULE-LECLAIR: What I do know is our police department is doing everything in their power to get ahead of this. Every single report of “shots fired” gets investigated, whether or not someone was physically hurt. LPD doesn’t let things slide. They follow every lead, knock on doors, and stay on it until they get answers. That matters.

The problem isn’t just the crime. It’s the fear that nothing’s being done about it. Truth is, a lot is being done. We just don’t always know. We need to stop standing on the sidelines. If you’re worried, take action. Call the police when you see something. Get to know your neighborhood patrol officer. Join the Citizens Police Academy.

The more we show up, speak up and stay informed, the more we take back control of our streets. We don’t have to live in fear. We can be part of the solution.

CHITTIM: The city is responding with coordinated, multi-pronged approaches. Chief (David) St. Pierre has intensified police patrols. We’re implementing environmental design principles that make public spaces more welcoming, such as the Canal St. bike lane demonstration project and the removal of parking meters to encourage downtown activity. We’re enforcing youth curfews, code enforcement has been reworked, and the mayor and new city administrator have created multiple opportunities for meaningful community engagement.

GALLANT: (We should respond) truthfully and factually to the best of our abilities with the knowledge we have. We have already increased police presence, and added cameras in the areas we are most concerned about. The truth is, we are down police officers, and for being the second-largest city in Maine, we pay our police officers poorly compared to many communities. I believe our police officers should be paid better.

SHELINE: Administration and the police department have responded quickly with a variety of measures. These include proactive policing, increased patrols and community engagement.

Do you think the City Council and city officials are doing enough to respond to safety concerns?

NAGINE: We can always do more. And we need to be united around how we are tackling this challenge through the department heads and administrator’s office while engaging our residents.

It’s no secret that city leadership has not been the public voice calling for action and solutions until recently with the recent change in administration. That perceived leadership void has been worrying to the general public for a while now.

For me, and most of my constituency, Lewiston is a city that cannot tolerate gun violence and violent crime on our streets and in our neighborhoods.

LONGCHAMPS: I want to acknowledge the work being done by my fellow councilors, city staff and community organizations who care deeply about this city.

But now more than ever, we need collective action. We need nonprofit organizations, leaders in our Tree Streets, and residents from every walk of life to come together. Everyone must have a seat at the table. And we must all agree on one thing: This violence has to stop.

Lewiston is worth fighting for. Our children are worth protecting. Our communities are worth rebuilding. Let’s stand together, hold each other accountable, and demand the systemic change we deserve.

HARRIMAN: It never feels like we can do enough given the resources that we have. However, I know every member of the council cares deeply about the safety and best interests of Lewiston’s residents. We owe it to taxpayers to make sure they’re getting the results they paid for from all the city departments that serve them.

SOULE-LECLAIR: I think we can always do more. We’ve made real progress — like passing the youth curfew — but there’s still a lot to do. I’d like to see us pass a local ordinance that gives police more backing when it comes to public drug use.

Also, we as councilors need to start giving law enforcement the tools and support they need to protect our communities. The council should be petitioning state officials as well as the judicial system to uphold and enforce the laws that support our local law enforcement, like the bail condition, or lack of. I would also like to see some sort of state Legislature judicial change around repetitive offenders like public drug use.

CHITTIM: City Council and our municipal leaders have demonstrated a genuine commitment to addressing public safety and have taken significant steps in recent months to elevate this priority. Lewiston Police Department’s coordinated efforts and (the code enforcement office) ramping up beautification notifications demonstrate that the city is not content to let safety concerns go unaddressed.

The work ahead remains substantial. Real change demands a sustained, comprehensive approach, not a quick fix.

I want to make clear that some of what needs to happen will require resources. I hear from the same constituents who demand cleaner streets, faster enforcement and more police, yet in the next breath say their taxes are too high. I understand that tension. We must invest wisely and collaboratively. Solving problems like this requires resources, and resources are stretched pretty thin right now.

Public safety is a complex, multifaceted issue — one that cannot be resolved by a single council vote or isolated initiative.

SHELINE: We are always looking for ways to make progress for our city. One of the issues the Public Safety Committee will focus on is increasing communication and cooperation between the community and the police department. Preventing crime and solving cases will take all of us.

What is your understanding of the violence and safety in Lewiston and how it compares to other larger cities in Maine? Do you think that the public perception is impacted by reputation and image and not necessarily warranted?

NAGINE: I think most communities of size are experiencing similar challenges, not just in Maine, but in northern New England and indeed around the country. I would say that your likelihood of being a witness to, or victim of, violent crime doesn’t differ greatly from other communities overall, but there are neighborhoods where there is a greatly enhanced sense of fear and potential for exposure to violence in the community.

And I do think that reputation and image, including self-image amongst our residents, have played a large part in prejudicing any meaningful public conversation around solutions. The statistics say that you are just as likely to be exposed to violent crime on Lisbon Street in Lewiston as you are on Commercial Street in Portland or Maine Street in Brunswick, but that is not the community sentiment.

And as far as public discontent about community violence is concerned, I do believe it’s warranted because our residents do not accept the trajectory the city has been on and do not always feel safe or comfortable on their own streets.

LONGCHAMPS: Lewiston and Portland are two of the largest cities in Maine, and sadly, both are experiencing similar levels of violence. I believe that both cities can and should be working together with state legislators and our justice system to implement meaningful reforms. If we truly want change, then we need support from every level — local, state, and judicial — to ensure that crimes are prosecuted, consequences are enforced, and resources are allocated where they’re most needed.

HARRIMAN: From my observation, most of the violence that we’re seeing stems from domestic disagreements between people who know each other. While it may feel comforting that they target the person they’re arguing with and the crime isn’t simply random, there’s always the possibility of someone else being caught in between.

SOULE-LECLAIR: I think Lewiston gets a bad rap and not all of it’s fair. Do we have problems? Absolutely. And that contributes to making people feel unsafe.

But you’ll find problems in every city, even the ones with bigger PR teams and more police. The difference is when something happens here, it gets blasted all over social media before the facts are out. Or, the media wants to cover the police when they think they are not doing their job or when they think they know how to do their job better. The constant media spotlight, especially from those who don’t know the full story, just adds to the fear and damages our reputation.

We aren’t perfect, but it’s not the warzone (people) make us out to be either. We have great neighborhoods, families who care, and a police department that shows up every day ready to do the hard work.

We just need to stay focused on fixing things, not feeding the noise.

CHITTIM: Perception shapes reality, especially when it comes to public safety. I don’t dismiss people’s fears, and I don’t pretend that reputation doesn’t matter. It absolutely does. But I also believe that perception, once it hardens into narrative, can be incredibly difficult to dislodge, even when the lived experience of many residents doesn’t match that narrative.

So yes, I do think image and reputation are playing an outsized role in shaping how some people view Lewiston today. That doesn’t mean the concerns aren’t real, or that there aren’t things we need to improve. It does mean we have to be intentional about telling the full story of this city, not just the parts that confirm and reinforce the worst assumptions.

Restoring balance to that perception isn’t about public relations. It’s about steady, visible progress. It’s about clean streets, responsive policing, open dialogue, thriving public spaces and opportunities for people to participate in solutions. The work of rebuilding trust and civic pride doesn’t happen overnight, but it does happen through investment, leadership and presence.

GALLANT: Having a son as a police officer and relatives in the Maine State Police, I have learned Lewiston is not unique as people make it out to be. We just have a lot more news/social media coverage. I researched other communities in Maine and their crime rate and shootings are not much greater than ours. However, most are not given the attention ours in Lewiston gets (mostly local social media attention). Had it not been for the October 2023 mass shooting, I believe people would feel much different than they do today. This is seen in all communities that have experienced mass shootings.

Public perception is driven by our own community. Social media sites in Lewiston we know have a worldwide audience continue to slam our area. I have traveled all over Maine and have yet to have someone say anything bad about Lewiston, unless of course they previously lived here. We need to clean our own act up and our image will follow.

SHELINE: Since I’ve moved to town it’s been clear to me that Lewiston doesn’t get a fair shake. While the reputation we have is undeserved, we all have real work to do to increase public safety in our community.