(NationRise.com) – At least two people are dead, and two homes burned to the ground after an intense standoff between police in Auburn, Maine, and a suspect.
The incident began at around 1:00 am on June 15th. Leein Hinkley, 43, broke into his ex-girlfriend’s house and confronted a man who was inside at the time. She called 911 during the confrontation but fled after hearing gunshots. The man died at the scene.
Hinkley then set the house ablaze before briefly retreating to a neighbor’s garage. He then fled to another home with a flat roof and climbed to the top. After that, witnesses said he began screaming while waving a gun around.
A four-hour intense standoff between Hinkley and the police ensued soon after. Locals were put on shelter-in-place orders even though additional houses were set on fire. Several vehicles, including a school bus, were also charred during the inferno.
A SWAT team from the Maine State Police Department arrived on the scene at around 5:30 am and scaled the roof. Two of them shot Hinkley, killing him instantly. Both officers suffered injuries and have been placed on administrative leave. Details about their injuries have not been released.
The incident came just three days after Hinkley posted bail to be released from jail. He was previously arrested after violating his probation and choking his girlfriend. That came after he formerly served a 15-year prison sentence for stabbing a previous girlfriend. However, a judge removed his probation hold over delays caused by the state’s shortage of public defenders. His bond was set at only $1500.
The judge faced significant backlash from District Attorney Neil McLean Jr., many law enforcement officials, and organizations that support them, including the Fraternal Order of Police. McLean said public safety shouldn’t hinge on the availability of public defenders and added that Hinkley was already known to be an “extremely dangerous human being.”
However, Valerie Stanfill, who currently serves as the chief justice of Maine’s court system, defended the decision. She said that the shortage and the resulting delays will continue to cause the state’s court system to “malfunction.” She also called the issue a “constitutional crisis.”
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