LEWISTON, Maine – A New England city, which has seen a surge in refugees and immigrants, is now facing a youth gun violence crisis. This year alone, police have reported 35 gun-related incidents, with 22 of those involving minors.
“I don’t feel safe. I fear for my life,” said Mohamed Muhumed, a teenager from Lewiston. “I saw someone get punched in the middle of the sidewalk over there. It’s crazy.”
As the second-largest city in Maine with a significant population of refugees from Somalia and other African nations, Lewiston is struggling with serious youth gun violence. The city’s police chief, Carly Conley, described this gun violence as one of the most pressing public safety challenges they are facing.
Jon Fetherston, a reporter for the conservative The Maine Wire who has extensively covered the situation, mentioned that “the gun violence in Lewiston is very concerning. Most of it has been committed by teenagers… Numerous teenagers have been arrested and then released right back onto the streets.”
“The court system is overwhelmed. The DA is frustrated because the courts don’t keep these kids in jail… People are frightened. There’s a lot of anger and frustration among residents, and now we have this almost normal occurrence of kids shooting other kids here in Lewiston,” Fetherston remarked.
In response, local officials have authorized an additional $200,000 for police overtime to boost patrols and enforcement. They are also advocating for changes in Maine’s juvenile justice system to better handle repeat violent offenders and to enforce stricter evaluations prior to the release of high-risk juveniles.
Mayor Carl Sheline stated last month that the added resources send “a strong message to those committing gun violence: we will find you.” However, he also stressed that “parental involvement and accountability are key to reducing youth gun violence in our city.”
Rick LaChapelle, a former city council president running for mayor, told Fox News Digital, “Our biggest issue is the system itself. The police are doing a great job detaining these individuals. There’s one young man who has been arrested five times, for the same offense. He goes to the youth center, and then he’s released.”
“It’s been a long-standing one-party rule that has allowed for a lack of accountability,” LaChapelle suggested. “We need to change the system’s rules.”
Attempts to reach Mayor Sheline for a discussion on his measures against gun violence were unsuccessful before the publication of this article.
No city or police data suggests that Somali residents, as a group, are responsible for the violence, nor is there a clear link to the recent uptick in incidents. Still, LaChapelle remarked, “That appears to be who’s being arrested at this moment.”
Mohamed Adbei, a local teenager, contested any ethnic implications, stating, “I wouldn’t just say it’s the Somali kids. It’s youth in general.”
Ifraax Saciid, a Somali who previously lived in Atlanta before moving to Lewiston, came to a similar conclusion. “No, that’s not the root cause. I think the root cause is poverty here in Lewiston. It’s economically struggling,” she stated. “What we are experiencing here is not unique. It’s happening in cities like Atlanta, Miami, Ohio, Kentucky, and Minnesota where I’ve also lived.”
Lewiston has recently been a focal point for fraud scandals related to Maine’s combined federal and state Medicaid program as well. Saciid argued, “Fraud is occurring everywhere in the U.S., across all demographics. It’s not linked to one specific group.”
The Somali immigration wave to Lewiston began about 25 years ago when many arrived seeking safe neighborhoods and affordable housing in the former mill city along the Androscoggin River.
Then-Mayor Larry Raymond brought national attention in 2002 by asking Somali leaders to discourage future migration to Lewiston, claiming the rapid influx was putting a strain on city resources.
Now, Lewiston has one of the highest per capita Muslim populations in the nation, primarily consisting of Somalis and refugees from other African countries.
Fetherston argued that “history has shown Raymond was correct that… the influx was overwhelming because a lot has changed in Lewiston, and not necessarily for the better.”
LaChapelle mentioned, “I’m of French Canadian descent; my ancestors came here… We need legal immigration in America. We need to grow.” Yet, he also noted, “It needs to be done logically and legally. When my ancestors arrived, they didn’t have a free ride. Now it feels like we’re supporting everyone, and some have been on welfare for decades. That needs to change.”
