SWANVILLE, Maine — A 22-year-old man from Morrill was charged Friday with murder, accused of shooting and killing another man.
Austin McDevitt is charged with the murder of Shane Sauer, 26, of Belfast.
Police responded shortly before 5 a.m. to a shooting at 568 Oak Hill Rd., located in Swanville near the Belfast town line. According to Public Safety spokesman Steve McCausland, it took place behind the home outside a nearby cabin.
Police said a woman was at the home at the time of the shooting, but she was not considered a suspect.
According to court documents, McDevitt says he was familiar with Sauer because they were both in a relationship with the woman who was at the home during the time of the shooting. McDevitt says the woman was in the process of ending a relationship with Sauer.
McDevitt says he and Sauer had previously planned to meet to fistfight.
According to court documents, McDevitt says the incident began when he was awoken to Sauer punching him sometime after 3 am. The two fought and when the fight ended, he walked to his car and got his gun out of the glovebox.
McDevitt says Sauer followed him outside and threatened to kill him, but did not display a weapon. McDevitt ultimately shot at Sauer, firing a total of sixteen rounds.
An autopsy reveals Sauer was shot a total of seven times, three times to the head.
After the shooting, McDevitt drove to the Belfast Police Department where he told officers about the shooting.
State police and Waldo County sheriff's deputies are jointly investigating the shooting death.
McDevitt appeared in court Monday and is being held without bail.
An initial background check into Austin McDevitt shows an ex-girlfriend filed a restraining order against him in February 2018. In the restraining order, the ex-girlfriend says he harassed her and told her that he wished she were dead.
The ex-girlfriend also expressed concern over McDevitt having weapons. McDevitt agreed to the terms of a two-year restraining order with the woman under the condition that he could keep his firearms.
The ex-girlfriend who filed the restraining order is not connected to the Swanville shooting.
This is the first step of the legal process for McDevitt.
"The next step is a presentation to the grand jury to determine whether or not an indictment will be handed down against the defendant," prosecuting attorney, Leane Zainea said. "The next step after that would be an arraignment on the official charging instrument which would be the indictment."
McDevitt is expected to appear in court on April 12.