CNN
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A 34-year-old man was arrested Tuesday night in connection with the killing of four people found earlier in the day in their Bowdoin, Maine, home, authorities said.
State police said the killing appeared to be linked to a series of nearby highway shootings shortly after the four bodies were found, injuring three drivers, one seriously.
The arrested man was identified by Maine State Police as Joseph Eaton.
Eaton was taken to Two Bridges Regional Jail and will make his first court appearance later this week, state police said at a news conference Tuesday night. Eaton is currently the only person charged with the homicide, officials said Wednesday.
CNN has not been able to identify an attorney for Eaton.
“Investigators will work through the night to address multiple scenarios and continue to interview those involved in this incident,” state police said in a news release.
Police have released no details about a possible motive for the two incidents, or the four people who were found dead at the home.
exist a statement On Twitter, the governor of Maine. Janet Mills said: “Like the people of Maine, I am appalled and deeply saddened – our state and our communities have been rocked by the violence we are experiencing today.”
Maine State Police responded Tuesday morning to the Bowdoin home where they found the four deceased victims, State Trooper Lt. Randall Keaten said at a news conference earlier Tuesday.
Shortly after, authorities received reports that several vehicles had been shot on I-295 in the Yarmouth area, about 40 minutes from Bowden Inn.
Three people were shot while driving and were taken to hospital, state police said. At least one of the three was in critical condition on Tuesday, authorities added.
“We’ve had reports of vehicles being hit by direct fire, so if anyone has a vehicle with a vulnerability, please contact us so we can follow up,” Keaton said.
The victim found at the Bowdoin home was connected to the highway shooting, Keaten said, adding there was no threat to the public.
The four bodies were taken to Augusta’s chief medical examiner’s office, where an autopsy will determine the manner and cause of death.
Authorities have asked for the help of anyone who may have witnessed something or had any information about Tuesday morning’s events.
“There’s a lot going on between those two scenes this morning, and those are the people we want to talk to, the people that’s been impacted by that,” Keaten said, adding that authorities are continuing to work through several of the impacted scenes and gather more information.