Maine Man Indicted in Hunting Related Shooting Incident
Yesterday, an Androscoggin County Grand Jury indicted Christopher Austin, age 41, from Wales, on two separate charges stemming from a November 20 hunting related shooting incident that killed Gerard Parent, also from Wales. Maine Game Wardens arrested Austin this morning without incident and he was brought to the Androscoggin County jail. The Grand Jury indicted Austin on one count of Class A – MANSLAUGHTER and one count of Class E – SHOOTING TOO CLOSE TO A DWELLING. Christopher Austin is scheduled to appear before Androscoggin Superior Court tomorrow morning at 8:30.
Case summary: On November 20, 2012 at 4:19 PM, game wardens were called to investigate a hunting related shooting incident. The incident took place off the East Road in Wales. The two men were hunting deer independently of one another. They were in area located between East Road and Route 126. The investigation revealed 41 year-old Gerard Parent was fatally shot by Christopher Austin.
The investigation indicates both men were pursuing the same deer. During the course of the incident, both men fired at what is believed to be the same deer. Austin fired two shots and Parent fired one shot. Early indications are that Austin’s second shot struck Parent in the upper chest, killing him.
Nearly two dozen game wardens and approximately ten state troopers responded to the incident. Resources included warden service canines, Forensic Mappers, aircraft, and the Evidence Response Teams from both the Warden Service and State Police. The investigation continued for many weeks. The Maine Warden Service is working in cooperation with the Attorney General’s Office and the Androscoggin County District Attorney’s Office.
