Man accused of Forest Avenue shooting seeks bail

PORTLAND, Maine – A Naples man accused of murdering a woman during a shooting on Forest Avenue in Portland is requesting bail during his trial.

Aaron Karp, 47, appeared before a Cumberland County Superior Court judge on Friday along with his attorney, Verne Paradiese.

“Two years in prison is a long time for someone who has a credible defense,” Paradiese said in the courtroom.

Karp is currently being held in the Cumberland County Jail. He is connected to the July 30 shooting that left four people injured. One of those people, 54-year-old Susan McHugh, died from a gunshot wound to the chest, according to a prosecutor.

Portland Police Detective Jeffrey Tully took the stand and presented a handful of surveillance video footage taken the night of the shooting.

One of the videos, taken at Westbrook's Brookline Food and Drink restaurant, shows a handful of people who prosecutors believe belong to the motorcycle groups, or “gangs,” known as Higher Calling and The Outlaws.

In the videos, the prosecutor and Tully explain that there appeared to be an altercation between the two groups in Brookline, followed moments later by the shooting on Forest Avenue.

“They all retreated except his client, who fell, got up, turned around and fired nine shots in the direction of Mrs. McHugh,” a prosecutor said.

Prosecutors also pointed to several social media posts on Karp's personal Facebook page that discussed the group “The Outlaws” and his alleged connection to the group. Prosecutors also argued the Outlaws' connection to criminal activity.

However, defense attorney Paradiese said all speculation about the Outlaws was false. He argued that Karp's lack of criminal history and the fact that he turned himself in for arrest must be taken into account.

“To be clear: The Outlaws did not instigate this incident,” Paradiese said in court. “Just because they are called The Outlaws, they are Outlaws. These people do charitable work.”

The judge is expected to decide on Karp's bail in the coming weeks.

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