Woman killed, 3 injured in Portland shooting. Police scant on details. (2024)

One person was killed and three others injured Tuesday night in a shooting near Morrill’s Corner on Forest Avenue in Portland, police said late Wednesday night.

Susan McHugh, 54, of Gray, died after being transported to the Maine Medical Center, Portland police said in an emailed statement. McHugh’s death was ruled a homicide following an autopsy by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

The shooting was reported around 8:45 p.m. Tuesday, the department said in a statement Wednesday morning. No arrests have been announced.

The department said it will not release details about the people who were injured and will “provide updates to the public as the case allows,” according to the statement emailed just before 10 p.m. Wednesday

Earlier Wednesday, police lifted a recommendation to shelter in place “because we don’t believe there is any threat to the public at this time,” the statement said.

Several people in the area Tuesday night said they heard gunshots, though none of them reported seeing anything. Police are asking anyone with information related to the shooting to call investigators at 207-874-8575, or text “PPDME” and a message to 847411.

Maine State Police said they were called in to assist, but provided no information about what happened.

The shooting was reported near Samuel’s Bar & Grill on Forest Avenue between the intersections of Morrill Street and Stevens Avenue. Portland police closed a section of Forest Avenue near Morrill’s Corner through the night. It reopened Wednesday morning.

After police left the scene Wednesday, a handful of people came to the Samuel’s parking lot around 9 a.m. to pick up cars they had left overnight. Many of them quietly hurried to their vehicles and declined to talk about the shooting.

One woman, who didn’t want to be named, said she parked at Samuel’s just minutes before she saw people running inside and yelling “get down.” The woman said she didn’t hear gunshots outside, but once inside the bar, she waited with others for about 20 minutes until it was safe to leave.

A few employees were inside the bar Wednesday morning cleaning. One employee, who declined to talk to a reporter, came outside to check on people as they picked up their cars.

Samuel’s said in a Facebook post that the shooting was not at the bar.

“Our employees and customers are all safe thanks to the quick reaction of our employees and the Portland Police Department,” the post said.

The Brass Rail, a bar across Forest Avenue from Samuel’s, also posted on social media that the shooting did not occur on its premises.

“Our hearts go out to anyone harmed in our little neighborhood tonight,” the post said.

At least a dozen emergency vehicles, including Portland police and Maine State Police SUVs, surrounded Samuel’s by 10 p.m. and people were seen inside. The parking lot was surrounded by yellow police tape, as were nearby lots and alleyways.

A few people lingered outside, though they declined to offer details about what they saw. One of the women nodded when asked if she heard gunshots.

A woman sat on the curb shortly after 10 p.m., filling out a printed form before handing it to a Portland police officer. A handful of officers stood around the bar, speaking softly. One officer walked a pair of women from the bar to their car around 10:10 p.m. before ushering them out of the taped area.

Neighborhood residents, posting in a Facebook group Tuesday night, described multiple emergency vehicles and blockaded streets in the area. One commenter described hearing what sounded like multiple gunshots and described “police surrounding the area.”

Campbell Macomber, 22, sat on the curb of Stevens Avenue around 10:20 p.m. Macomber said he and a friend were inside a tattoo shop next door when he heard shots. He said they sounded like an airsoft or paintball gun.

“I kind of just disregarded it. I didn’t think it was anything serious,” said Campbell, of New Gloucester. “Then I saw the cop cars.”

Staff Writer Gillian Graham contributed to this report.

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