Portland, Maine — A quiet morning inside a Portland support home turned deadly after a violent stabbing left 40-year-old Marlene McNeill of Gorham dead.
Police said the attack happened just before 10 a.m. on Monday inside Shalom House, a residential facility located at 503 Woodford Street near Rosemont Avenue. The building is known for housing adults living with mental illness and providing daily support services.
Officers confirmed that McNeill was attacked inside the facility, with the violence taking place in a back hallway. Emergency responders arrived quickly after the call came in.
She was rushed to MaineHealth Maine Medical Center in critical condition. Medical teams worked to save her life, but she later died from her injuries.
The sudden violence triggered panic inside the building. Multiple residents had to be evacuated as emergency crews secured the scene and searched the area.
Some residents were even helped out using a fire department ladder truck, a rare step taken due to safety concerns inside the building during the response.
Police later arrested Armando Javier Negrete, 40, at the scene without incident. He was taken to Cumberland County Jail, where he remains as the investigation continues.
Authorities have not yet released a motive for the attack. Investigators say they are still working to understand what led to the deadly confrontation inside a place meant for care and stability.
The incident has left residents, staff, and the wider Portland community shaken as questions remain unanswered about how the violence unfolded.
