Details remain scant in fatal shooting of newspaper columnist M.D. Harmon

M.D. Harmon (Courtesy photo)

SANFORD - State and Sanford police today are continuing their investigation into the shooting death of a longtime Portland newspaper editor and columnist while remaining tight-lipped on many aspects of the case.

Mike Harmon, known as Portland Press Herald and Maine Sunday Telegram columnist M.D. Harmon to thousands of readers across the state, was fatally shot on Wednesday by an unnamed North Berwick teen who was handling one of Harmon's guns at the time of the shooting.

The incident took place inside Harmon's Brunelle Street home as he was showing the 16-year-old the firearm. As the teen was handling the gun, it went off, killing the longtime columnist and editor.

Harmon, 71, died at the scene.

An autopsy is scheduled at the State Medical Examiner's office but when the autopsy would be performed and and when the results would be known have not been released. After the results of the autopsy are completed, it is expected the case will be reviewed by the Attorney General's Office.

The teenager and his father, who was also at Harmon's home at the time of the shooting, are both from North Berwick.

Detectives said both father and son have been cooperating in the investigation.

Harmon, a conservative columnist at the liberal-leaning newspaper, had been a longtime defender of gun rights and had worked in various capacities at the newspaper for more than 40 years, retiring in 2011.