Waterville man pleads not guilty to murder in shooting death outside duplex

The house at 18 South Grove St. in Waterville, shown on Feb. 20, is where a shooting occurred that led to the death of Justin Iraola. Tyler Quirion pleaded not guilty Monday to charges of murder in connection with the killing of Iraola. Amy Calder/Morning Sentinel file

AUGUSTA — A man pleaded not guilty Monday to charges he shot and killed another man earlier this year in Waterville.

Tyler Quirion Photo Courtesy of the Kennebec County Correctional Facility

Tyler Quirion, 20, of Waterville, denied the charges of murder, manslaughter and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person in connection with the shooting death of Justin Iraola in Waterville earlier this year. Quirion appeared in court via video from Kennebec County jail in Augusta.

Quirion was arrested Friday and charged with the Feb. 19 murder of Iraola, 22, outside a home on South Grove Street in Waterville.

Waterville police initially responded to the shooting, which occurred outside a duplex at 16-18 South Grove St., shortly after 8 am 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.

Attorney William Baghdoyan, acting as defense lawyer of the day, entered the not guilty pleas for Quirion at Monday’s hearing. Baghdoyan said Quirion has no criminal record and would like to be released on bail. Baghdoyan said Quirion should be appointed a lawyer to defend him.

District Court Judge Heather Seasonwein, who heard the case at the Capital Judicial Center in Augusta Monday afternoon, denied bail to Quirion but said bail would be reviewed later at another hearing. Seasonwein said there is not currently a defense lawyer that can be appointed to represent someone in a murder case.

“Unfortunately, we do not have anyone who can take murder cases at this time; however, we are actively looking and will try to get you access to a lawyer,” Seasonwein said.

A Kennebec County grand jury indicted Quirion on charges of murder, manslaughter, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person on Thursday and he was arrested Friday by Waterville and Maine State Police according to a news release issued by the Maine Department of Public Safety.

Baghdoyan said he hoped a lawyer would be appointed for Quirion soon, given the circumstances.

He said Quirion was initially arrested seven months ago but then released, until the grand jury met recently and he was arrested again. “He’s been right in the area, not going anywhere, for seven months, and now the state has dictated him and wants him held without lease,” Baghdoyan said.

Leanne Robbins, assistant attorney general, said a Harnish hearing should be held to review bail for him, given the seriousness of the crime. In Maine, Harnish bail hearings are held when an offense committed was once considered a capital crime in Maine.

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. Iraola lived in Winslow at the time of his killing.

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.

He faces 25 years to life in prison, without parole, on the murder charge.