Fatal Portland shooting began with fight between rival motorcycle clubs

Sep. 20—A deadly shooting in Morrill's Corner this summer started with a fight between two motorcycle clubs at the back patio of a bar in Westbrook, investigators told a judge on Friday.

Aaron Karp, wearing a blue button-down shirt, entered the courtroom in Cumberland County Superior Court on Friday for his bail hearing. Behind him, community members filled almost three full pews, quietly listening to the investigator testify and watching surveillance videos from that night. It was the first time details of the case have been discussed publicly; police have largely kept quiet since the shooting, citing the ongoing investigation.

Karp, 47, faces one count of intentional or knowing murder in the death of Susan McHugh, 54. She was one of four people injured on the night of July 30 and later died at the hospital from a gunshot wound to the chest.

The lead detective in the case spent hours on the stand Friday recounting the investigation, which included talk of rival gangs, two-pound mini-sledgehammers, a police-style baton and switchblade found at the scene, and a mother defending her child.

Karp is being held without bail at the Cumberland County Jail after turning himself in to police last month.

Friday's hearing was scheduled to determine if he should be given bail and the possibility of release. Many of his friends and family had submitted letters to the court asking for bail.

Superior Court Justice John O'Neil said he would take some time to digest the information and hold a formal discussion about bail at another time. The judge raised the question of self-defense multiple times, saying he is not sure whether to consider it in his decision.

On July 30, Travis Frechette and Troy McHugh — Susan McHugh's son and husband — were with William Holmes at Brookside Food and Drink in Westbrook when a few men, some of whom were wearing logos for Higher Calling, a local biker group police say is affiliated with the Outlaws Motorcycle Club, arrived, according to surveillance videos obtained by Portland detective Jeffrey Tully.

Tully testified at the hearing Friday that Frechette, Troy McHugh and Holmes are associated with another motorcycle club, called FSU. He said the argument began because the owner of Brookside didn't want customers to wear their club colors.

The surveillance video from the bar showed Holmes approaching the Higher Calling members, "put his hands" on one of the men and remove his vest, Tully said. Then Holmes and Frechette assaulted another man and Holmes took a gun from one of the men and handed it to Troy McHugh, who stripped the rounds out of the magazine and threw it on the table, according to the detective.

Once Frechette, McHugh and Holmes left the bar, the Higher Calling members were seen on video making several phone calls. Shortly afterward, Karp arrived on his motorcycle with a few others, Tully said.

Karp, who police said was wearing a watch, baggy blue jeans and a sleeveless vest, pulls a wrench from his saddlebag and puts it in his pocket. Another man was carrying a "mini sledgehammer," the detective said. Tully, pointing to a map, said they must have overheard Holmes saying he was headed to Samuel's Bar and Grill because the Outlaw members drove to the parking lot of Rosemont Market and Bakery on Stevens Avenue.

The group walked through the Samuel's parking lot and across Forest Avenue toward Meineke Car Care Center, where Troy McHugh, Frechette and Holmes were parked with Susan McHugh and Frechette's girlfriend.

The foggy black and white surveillance footage from Meineke shows the three men falling to the ground after being assaulted by the Outlaw group, Tully said. In the background, Susan McHugh appears to crouch next to the truck before firing a single round from her husband's gun at the Outlaw members, who then ran across the street, the detective said.

Karp had tripped, Tully said, and stood up to fire nine rounds at Susan McHugh. Only one bullet hit her, while the eight others damaged the windshield of another car.

Frechette picked up his father's gun and fired eight rounds toward Karp and the group. None of those rounds appeared to hit anyone either, Tully said. Frechette's girlfriend then called 911 around 8:45 p.m. but Karp and the others had left the scene. One man who police said is associated with the Outlaws, Kristofer Haken, was grazed by a gunshot and found by first responders across the street.

In an interview last month, Frechette said his mother was a hero that night and "did anything she could to keep her children safe."

Troy McHugh and Holmes were brought to the hospital with skull fractures. Neither man could recall who shot Susan McHugh, police said.

'WE NEED HIM'

Karp's motorcycle was later found at his ex-wife's home on Colley Hill Road in Gray, which was searched on Aug. 2. He turned himself in to police on Aug. 8.

Defense attorney Verne Paradie spent much of his cross examination Friday asking the detective to clarify that no witnesses identified Karp as the shooter. Tully said investigators were able to identify Karp in the video by his hair, clothes and the gait in his walk.

Paradie also noted the disagreement only began when the three men assaulted and stole from the Higher Calling group at Brookside.

He said Karp poses no risk to another person and should have the right to post bail. He requested a high cash bail up to $300,000.

"Mr. Karp has no intention of confronting or in any way targeting these people," Paradie said.

Assistant Attorney General Jennifer Ackerman asked if the judge decided to allow bail, it should be "extraordinarily high."

"The seriousness of the offense is as serious as we get," she said. "The nature and evidence against Mr. Karp is significant and concerning."

Before Friday's hearing, Karp's friends and family submitted passionate statements to the court asking that the judge consider bail.

"Despite the charge against him, I would still give him the key to my house and ask him to take care of my pets and property if I went on vacation or was traveling for business," Jim Fahey, a retired police officer wrote in a statement.

Karp's mother described him as a loving, dependable son and father to his children.

"Without my son Aaron, I don't know where I would be now," Bobette Karp wrote.

She said Karp supported her during various medical issues she faced.

"I am very aware of the severity of the charges against my son," Bobette Karp wrote. "I know he is as well. Please see that bail will be set so Aaron can return to his family. We need him."

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