Man charged with murder in Waterville shooting death
Sep. 21—WATERVILLE — A Waterville man was arrested Friday and charged with murder in Feb. 19 the shooting death of Justin Iraola, 22, outside a home on South Grove Street.
Tyler Quirion, 20, was indicted Thursday by the Kennebec County grand jury and also charged with manslaughter and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, according to a news release issued Friday night by the Maine Department of Public Safety.
An autopsy conducted the day of the shooting by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined the cause and manner of Iraola's death to be multiple gunshot wounds/homicide, the release says. Iraola lived in Winslow at the time of his killing.
The release says the Waterville Police Department and Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit conducted an extensive investigation into the shooting. Quirion was taken to Kennebec County Jail in Augusta and is being held without bail, according to the release from Lt. Aaron M. Turcotte, troop commander of Maine State Police Central Field Troop.
Waterville police initially responded to the shooting, which occurred outside a duplex at 16-18 South Grove St., shortly after 8 a.m. Feb. 19. The shooting occurred in front of the 18 South Grove part of the duplex, which is the southernmost unit. Law enforcement from multiple departments responded to the scene, as did the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit. Waterville dispatch logs at the time described the incident as a homicide.
The day after the shooting, a young boy answered the door and allowed a reporter to enter 18 South Grove. His mother, who identified herself only as Amanda, was inside, sitting on a couch. She said a man named "Justin" was the person who was killed. She said he had been visiting the home and at some point went outside, after which he was shot. She said her daughter was a witness to the shooting, but wasn't available to comment at that time. Neighbors at the time said the unit at 18 South Grove was the site of loud parties on weekends, when vehicles arrived with out-of-state plates, lining both sides of the street.
A family member several weeks ago said Amanda had died a few days after the shooting from a serious infection. Her family no longer lives in the duplex.
In late April, neighbors on South Grove Street who were interviewed said they were concerned that so much time had passed since the death and no information had been released about the investigation.
Asked why the investigation was taking so long, Shannon Moss, spokeswoman for the Public Safety Department, said the investigation was active and she did not have a timetable for when police would release additional information.
"Every death and-or homicide investigation is complex and presents its own unique set of challenges," Moss said. "Sometimes these investigations can take days, weeks, months or sometimes years."
Detectives, evidence response technicians and prosecutors have one shot at a case, so they must be diligent and methodical in their work, Moss said.
"The goal is always the integrity of the investigation and the victims and their families," she said.
After the shooting, Iraola's brother, Frankie, said in a social media post that he was there when the shooting occurred and Justin Iraola got in between him and the shooter, which saved his (Frankie's) life. In the post, he mourned the loss of his brother:
"My lil bro.. I'm so sorry.. seeing you like that was the hardest thing I've had to endure. You're eyes slowly clouding into.. whatever it is waiting for us on the other side. As you struggled to breathe, as I tried and tried to get you back to me, I realized I couldn't help you.. and I feel responsible for you not being able to see your daughter again."
Copy the Story Link
Comments are not available on this story.
