Morrill man charged with murder following early morning Swanville shooting

Mon, 03/18/2019 - 8:30am

    SWANVILLE — A Morrill man has been arrested and charged with murder following a fatal shooting that occurred in Swanville Friday around 4:45 a.m., according to Maine State Police Spokesman Steve McCausland.

    Austin McDevitt, 22, had fled the scene by the time law enforcement arrived and discovered Shane Sauer, 26, of Belfast, deceased at the scene, police said. Sauer was reportedly shot just outside of a cabin on the property.

    There was a third person at the home when the incident occurred, a female whom McCausland declined to identify. She was unharmed in the incident, but McCausland said all three people were familiar with one another.

    McDevitt was transferred to Two Bridges Regional Jail following his arrest at the Waldo County Sheriff’s Office, which occurred after he was interviewed there by law enforcement. McCausland declined to say how McDevitt ended up at the Sheriff’s Office.

    McCausland also declined to comment on the interview.

    McDevitt is expected to make his first court appearance in Belfast early next week.


    Erica Thoms can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com