LEWISTON, Maine — A 24-year-old man who held police at bay in an armed standoff before killing himself at St. Peter’s Cemetery was identified last week.
Police said the man was Shane Wright of 763 Lisbon St. He shot himself in the head on Feb. 18 as he sat in his vehicle. The suicide happened in the evening.
Wright’s mother was at the cemetery director’s office with police officers during the standoff, police said. She knew her son was distraught. She contacted police Saturday morning, worried that he would harm himself.
Police said they tried negotiating with him as he sat in his vehicle and were on the phone with him when he shot himself.
During the day, the cemetery at 217 Switzerland Road was shut down as Lewiston police and Maine State Police negotiated with Wright. About 30 police officers were involved.
The man never threatened to harm anyone but himself, police said.
Sad. With suicide, you never know how you will be treated on the other side.
The other side of what? The ground? He will be treated like everyone else. Decay rate depends on the quality of the coffin. The better the coffin, the better the seal and the longer it takes to decay. A cheap coffin and decay happens a lot faster.
You have a right to your thoughts but to say them aloud at this time seems hurtful and without civility. Is this your intent?
My comments are no less civil than yours. You are perpetuating a myth in order to give comfort. Two myths actually. One being the myth of an all powerful creator, and two, given that of all those religions that believe in the myth all say you can not get into Imagination Land if you commit suicide, your comment is cruel in that it offers hope that is not there. My post speaks of truth and things that actually happen. This young man took his life, and that is sad for those that are left behind, but it was his life to take. The tragedy here is that he felt there was no other recourse. You can argue that having 30 policemen there added to the pressure, and that things may have turned out different if…, but the simple fact is he chose what he chose. His life should be celebrated. The things he did and the people’s lives he touched are the rewards of this life, not some imaginary place you get to go because you were a “good boy” in life. I applaud you for trying to give comfort, but base it in reality. Base it on the good things he did in life, things that are real and tangible. Think about it this way, when you are out driving and find yourself hungry, what is going to give you more comfort, pulling into the drive-thru at McDonald’s or praying to the bobblehead Jesus on your dash to take away the pangs of hunger?
Please pardon me
Don’t say that. God welcomes everyone home because, God knows, we all do our best. God is compassionate, full of love; everyone’s spirit is embrassed by a loving and caring God. Consider your words more carefully please.
May God bless this family at this difficult time, Lord have mercy.
Condolences to his family, very sad.
You have to wonder , why?
there is not a day that goes by that I don’t think of doing the same thing and everyday the reality gets closer. Frankly I can’t wait much longer. Just throw me on the dump with the rest of the trash…