Witness describes high-speed chase, gunfire amid heavy police presence in Portland

Casco Bay Lines Employee Reports Shooting on Commercial Street

A Casco Bay Lines employee told reporters that he heard a volley of shots on Commercial Street in Portland, Maine, and later saw first responders retrieve a body bag from the scene. The employee, who was not named, was working at a ferry terminal when he heard the gunfire and called 911.

The employee said the shots rang out in quick succession—approximately twelve in total—before police and emergency medical services arrived. “I heard the shots and then saw a body bag being brought out by the responders,” the employee recounted, adding that the scene was chaotic and the air was heavy with the smell of gunpowder.

The incident occurred on a weekday afternoon, just as commuters and tourists were moving through the busy commercial district. The body bag, which the employee described as a standard first‑aid container, was taken to a nearby police station for analysis.

Portland Police Department officials confirmed that an investigation is underway. “We are treating this as a homicide case and are working to identify the victim and determine the circumstances that led to this tragic event,” a spokesperson said. The department has not released a suspect’s name, and no statements from the perpetrator have been made public.

The Casco Bay Lines company, which operates ferry services between Portland and the islands of Casco Bay, has issued a statement expressing its condolences to the victim’s family and pledging full cooperation with law‑enforcement efforts. “We are deeply saddened by the loss of life and stand with the community as we work with the police to get answers,” the statement read. The company has not announced whether any of its employees were injured.

The incident has raised concerns about public safety on Commercial Street, a thoroughfare that attracts both locals and visitors. Police have called for calm and urged anyone who witnessed the shooting to come forward with information.

At the time of writing, authorities have not yet released a police report detailing the nature of the shooting or the identity of the victim. The investigation continues as detectives comb through evidence, interview witnesses, and examine surveillance footage from the area. The police department has requested that residents remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.