Maine landlord charged in tenants' deaths

• Tweet

BIDDEFORD, Maine, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- A Maine landlord faced murder charges Sunday, the day after he allegedly shot two young tenants to death and wounded one's mother, police said.

The shootings occurred Saturday night, just a few minutes after police left the Biddeford residence where they had been called to intervene in a dispute over cars being parked in the driveway during a snowstorm, the Maine Sunday Telegram reported.

James Pak, 74, was taken into custody about 10 p.m. EST following about 3 hours of negotiations. He is charged with two counts of murder and was being held in the York County jail in Alfred, the Telegram said.

Killed in the Saturday night shooting were Derrick Thompson, 19, and his girlfriend, Alivia Welch, 18, the state police said. Thompson's mother, Susan Johnson, 44, was hospitalized in stable condition with a gunshot wound, the newspaper said.

Johnson's 7-year-old son Brayden escaped injury. Pak's wife Armit also was uninjured.

Police said a handgun was used in the shooting.

Pak appeared to have had no criminal record in Maine, but several neighbors said he was known for his short temper, the Telegram said.