The man who allegedly went on a rampage in Rumford earlier this month now accused of attempted murder.
Billy Morvent, 59, of Rumford was charged Thursday with three counts of aggravated attempted murder, one count of arson, three counts of criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon and one count of aggravated criminal mischief, according to Shannon Moss, a spokesperson for the Maine Department of Public Safety.
Police received 911 calls about 8 p.m. on Nov. 5 reporting gunfire coming from Morvent’s home on Route 232 in Rumford Corner village and that he had left and allegedly crashed his vehicle into another home just down the road and was firing a rifle at people and the home, according to Rumford police Chief Tony Milligan.
That home was then set ablaze.
Three people took cover in a nearby ditch, while Morvent fled with the rifle into the neighborhood, Milligan said earlier this month.
That sent the neighborhood into a lockdown, with police telling residents to shelter in place and lock their doors.
Police tracked Morvent back to his home, where negotiators convinced him to surrender peacefully about 1 a.m. on Nov. 6.
Morvent was taken to Rumford Hospital and then transferred to Maine Medical Center in Portland, where he was treated for life-threatening injuries from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Moss said Friday morning that Morvent remains hospitalized as he recovers from his injuries.
During a search of his home, police seized several guns, including an AR-style rifle, and a large cache of ammunition, according to Milligan.
No other injuries were reported.
Morvent was expected to be arraigned Friday afternoon via videoconference, according to Moss.
