NEWPORT — Police say an overnight drunken fracas involving baseball bats escalated into a shooting at a local trailer park — leaving one man wounded and another in jail.

Nathan Wheeler

Nathan Wheeler, 18, was arrested on charges of aggravated reckless conduct and aggravated assault after he allegedly shot another man with a handgun.

Newport Police Chief Leonard Macdaid said the situation began during the day Wednesday when a female juvenile stole alcohol from a Hannaford in town. Around midnight Thursday, residents of the New Street park were drinking the stolen alcohol when people began fighting one another using baseball bats. At this time, Wheeler went back to his residence to retrieve a handgun, Macdaid said, and returned to the group and allegedly shot the victim in his leg. Police believe the gun belongs to Wheeler.

After the shooting, the victim, whose name police are not releasing, was taken by ambulance to the hospital in Bangor and has since been released.

According to Macdaid, the man is 27 years old and also lives in the park.

The shooting was reported to police at 1 a.m., at which point officers from Pittsfield and Dexter and troopers from Somerset and Penobscot counties responded to the incident.

Wheeler had left the scene of the shooting, prompting a search in which a State Police dog unit assisted.

Police found Wheeler around 2:30 a.m. in his grandmother’s trailer where he also lives. Macdaid and Officer Jesse Gee arrested Wheeler and took him to Penobscot County Jail, where he is being held without bail.

When asked if others involved would be charged, Macdaid said it is possible as police are still investigating the incident.

This story will be updated.

Emily Higginbotham — 861-9239

ehigginbotham@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @EmilyHigg