In the winter of 2012, in the coastal town of Biddeford, Maine, a young man's life was tragically cut short in a dispute that escalated to violence. Derrick Thompson, a 19-year-old Caucasian male, was shot and killed on December 29, 2012. The fatal encounter also claimed the life of his 18-year-old girlfriend, Alivia Welch, and left his mother, Susan Johnson, wounded but alive after she pretended to be dead.
The incident, which unfolded in their apartment, stemmed from a series of arguments with their landlord.
The conflict with the landlord, 74-year-old James Pak, had been simmering over issues related to parking and snow removal. On the evening of the shooting, the tensions boiled over. Derrick Thompson had called 911, reporting that Pak was making death threats against him, including making a hand gesture like a gun and saying "bang". A Biddeford police officer responded to the call and spoke with both parties, but ultimately deemed the dispute a civil matter and left the residence. Just minutes after the officer s departure, Pak entered his tenants' apartment and opened fire.
The aftermath of the shooting saw a swift law enforcement response. James Pak was identified as the suspect and was subsequently arrested. He was charged with two counts of murder for the deaths of Derrick Thompson and Alivia Welch, and the attempted murder of Susan Johnson. Pak initially pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. However, in February 2016, he changed his plea to guilty on the two murder charges. Following his guilty plea, James Pak was sentenced to life in prison for the murders.
In the years that followed, the case also led to legal action against the Biddeford Police Department. The mothers of Derrick Thompson and Alivia Welch filed a wrongful death lawsuit, alleging that the police failed to protect their children despite the threats made by Pak. The lawsuit went through a lengthy legal process, with a federal appeals court ultimately upholding the dismissal of the case in February 2024. James Pak, the man responsible for the deaths of the two teenagers, died in prison in May 2024 at the age of 86.
