Police probe fatal shooting in Lebanon

LEBANON – A man was shot to death early Thursday when he showed up at the home where his former girlfriend was staying and got into an argument, state troopers said.

Paul Colarossi, 35, of Wells, was shot to death at about 1 a.m. after arguing with the man who owned the house in Lebanon where his former girlfriend was staying, said Stephen McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety.

Colarossi’s estranged girlfriend, Caren Polk, 41, and their 3-year-old daughter were staying at the home of Eugene Sperry after Polk obtained a protection-from-abuse order, McCausland said.

Sperry, 42, fired the fatal shots, but no charges have been brought, McCausland said. Prosecutors will review the findings of detectives before deciding whether to file charges, he said.

The circumstances remain under investigation. Detectives interviewed Sperry and Polk and analyzed evidence Thursday morning, and they plan to talk to family and friends.

“Everybody here is cooperating,” said Lt. Brian McDonough, who oversees the state police criminal division in southern Maine.

Robert Chamberlain, a next door neighbor, said he heard dogs barking at around 1 or 1:30 a.m. and then heard a shot fired.

He said it sounded like a “high-powered rifle,” but he did not report the gunfire to police because he thought it might be someone shooting at wildlife.

“We have stray coyotes and coons here, but I didn’t think there was going to be [a homicide],” said Chamberlain.