OAKLAND, Maine — A local man who was pulled from his burning mobile home on Sunday, and who later died from his injuries, committed suicide, Stephen McCausland, Maine Department of Public Safety spokesman, said Monday.
Donald Shores, 49, was found inside his burning home at 146 10 Lots Road, with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, McCausland said.
“A handgun was found next to him,” the state police spokesman said.
Firefighters went to Shores’ home after a passer-by reported the fire just before noon Sunday. Shores was found in his bedroom, Oakland Fire Chief David Coughlin said.
“We had units on scene within three to four minutes and we did rescue a resident from the building,” the fire chief said.
Delta Ambulance took Shores to MaineGeneral Medical Center in Waterville, where he later was pronounced dead.
The fire was extinguished within 20 minutes with about 30 firefighters, including mutual aid crews from the region, assisting, Coughlin said.
The state fire marshal’s office is investigating, a protocol whenever there is a fire with injury, and Maine State Police was called to assist, the fire chief said. Shores’ body was taken to the medical examiner’s office in Augusta for the autopsy.
“Fire investigators say it appears Shores used gasoline to start the fire in the living room and he then retreated to his bedroom where he shot himself,” McCausland said.