On a late summer evening in Lewiston, Maine, the life of 24-year-old Shawn Fitzsimmons was cut tragically short. It was September 11, 2004, and Fitzsimmons was at an apartment on Horton Street, drinking with a group of friends. Among them was 19-year-old Brandon Knight.
As the night unfolded, a 9 mm pistol was passed around the room. The handgun belonged to the tenant of the apartment, who had purchased it for her own protection.
While the clip was in the semi-automatic pistol, the friends examined the weapon. The mood of the gathering took a devastating turn when, while in the hands of Brandon Knight, the gun discharged a single bullet. The shot struck Shawn Fitzsimmons in the head.
Emergency services were called, and Fitzsimmons was rushed to Central Maine Medical Center, but his injuries were too severe, and he succumbed to them. In the immediate aftermath, the Maine State Police took over the investigation from the Lewiston Police Department. From the outset, authorities described the shooting as a tragic accident. No arrests were made in the days following the incident as investigators worked to piece together the events of that night. Friends of Knight described him as being deeply distraught and filled with remorse over the death of his friend.
Nearly a month later, on October 6, 2004, the investigation culminated in an indictment. An Androscoggin County grand jury charged Brandon Knight with reckless or negligent manslaughter with the use of a firearm. Prosecutors presented the findings of the police investigation, leading to the formal charge against the teenager. The charge carried a potential prison sentence of up to 30 years.
