A Maine man, identified as Nathan Hewett, 36, is accused of firing several rounds from a semi-automatic rifle near Camp Modin, a Jewish summer camp in Belgrade, Maine, on August 7, 2026. Court documents indicate that the shots were directed toward the camp's basketball courts, triggering a lockdown that involved children as young as 7 years old.
According to court documents, security guards at Camp Modin were forced to don ballistic vests and arm themselves to protect the campers. Pascal Cohen, the owner of Camp Modin, stated that Hewett has been a recurring problem at the camp. One security guard, Timothy Black, wrote in a letter to the Capital Judicial Center that Hewett, especially when intoxicated, would approach the property line and scream at employees.
Hewett was arrested following the incident but has since been released on bail. Reports indicate that Hewett and his father have subsequently been accused of harassing camp employees.
A rifle was recovered by authorities near the camp in the aftermath of the incident. The Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office was involved in the investigation.