OAKLAND — A local man shot himself after he set his mobile home on fire Sunday afternoon, police said.

Donald Shores Jr., 49, died from a gunshot wound to the head and a handgun was found next to him in the home’s bathroom, Steve McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety, said in a news release Monday after an autopsy was performed.

The fire at his mobile home at 146 Ten Lots Road was reported around noontime Sunday and caused extensive damage to the inside of the house, according to Captain David Groder of the Oakland Fire Department. There were no other injuries reported and no other occupants in the house at the time of the fire.

“Fire investigators say it appears Shores used gasoline to start the fire in the living room, and he then retreated to his bedroom where he shot himself,” McCausland said.

Shores was taken to a Waterville hospital, where he died.

McCausland said that Shores owned the mobile home.

Firefighters from Belgrade, Fairfield, Rome and Smithfield also responded to the scene. The Office of the Maine State Fire Marshal was also on the scene Sunday.


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