In the quiet, early morning hours of March 15, 2019, a confrontation in Swanville, Maine, ended the life of 26-year-old Shane Sauer, a White male from Belfast. The fatal encounter took place at a residence on Oak Hill Road, where Sauer had gone to confront his ex-girlfriend and her new partner, 22-year-old Austin McDevitt of Morrill.
An initial physical fight broke out between Sauer and McDevitt. Following this altercation, McDevitt went to his vehicle and retrieved a handgun.
When the two men encountered each other again, the situation escalated dramatically. McDevitt shot Sauer seven times, with three of the bullets striking him in the head. The shooting was the tragic culmination of a dispute over a shared romantic interest.
After the shooting, McDevitt drove himself to the Belfast Police Department and reported the incident. He was subsequently arrested and charged with intentional or knowing murder. In an interview with Maine State Police detectives later that day, McDevitt provided a full confession to the killing. Friends and colleagues remembered Sauer as a kind, hardworking, and well-liked individual. He was described as a passionate and caring person who would generously help a stranger in need.
In November 2020, Austin McDevitt pleaded guilty to the murder of Shane Sauer. On December 4, 2020, he was sentenced to 29 years in prison. During the sentencing, the court took into consideration McDevitt's age at the time of the crime and his decision to plead guilty, which spared the families a lengthy trial. Victim impact statements were read in court, with Sauer's mother speaking of the profound loss her family endured.
