Armed shooting near Maine Jewish camp triggers lockdown and ongoing harassment claims
A 36-year-old man allegedly fired a rifle near Camp Modin in Belgrade, Maine, prompting a lockdown of children as young as seven and subsequent harassment allegations.
Court filings reveal that Nathan Hewett, a 36-year-old neighbor of Camp Modin, fired several rounds from a rifle near the camp’s basketball courts on Aug. 7, 2026, an act described as an antisemitic attack. The gunfire triggered an emergency lockdown for campers as young as seven, with security personnel wearing ballistic vests and arming themselves to protect the children. Hewett was taken into custody but later released on bail, and his father is now accused of joining him in harassing camp staff.
Security guard Timothy Black wrote to the Capital Judicial Center, noting that Hewett frequently approaches the property line while intoxicated and screams at employees. The rifle was recovered near the camp by the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office. Camp owner Pascal Cohen has long considered Hewett a problem for the camp.
Why it matters
The incident highlights safety concerns at youth camps and raises issues of antisemitic violence and ongoing harassment.
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