Aaron Karp walks into Cumberland County Superior Court in Portland on Thursday. Karp pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the death of Susan McHugh, who was killed in July 2024 during a dispute between two motorcycle clubs in Portland. Brianna Soukup/Portland Press Herald

Susan McHugh’s family told the judge they knew the faces sitting across from them in the courtroom — they grew up together, they babysat Aaron Karp’s children.

Susan McHugh Photo courtesy the McHugh family

“All of you loved my mom,” Danika Frechette told them.

Karp shot McHugh, 54, of Gray, during a July 2024 fight between two motorcycle clubs that ended with her death, and a five-year prison sentence for Karp, 48, of Portland.

The two families sat on opposite sides of the courtroom during a tense, high-security hearing in Cumberland County Superior Court on Thursday morning as Karp pleaded guilty to manslaughter. He was originally facing a murder charge, but prosecutors agreed that he could have proved to a jury that the shooting was an act of self-defense.

Karp was one of seven suspects accused in the attack, including a New Hampshire man who has been wanted by police since November. Friends and family have described McHugh as a strong, family-oriented Army veteran who loved hardcore music and concerts.

Some of her family members shared tearful statements at the courtroom podium, saying she was a devoted mother who would do anything to defend her loved ones, even in her final moments.

They said she loved watching her grandchildren’s sports games, playing cards and inviting family over to swim in the pool. She was known as “Mimi” to her young grandchildren, who were her “pride and joy,” said her daughter-in-law Laura Gottshall.

“I ask the court to see this loss for what it truly is,” said Travis Frechette, McHugh’s son. “The lifelong devastation of a family, the destruction of safety, joy and generational love. There’s no sentence that can bring my mother back, but justice matters, truth matters, her life mattered.”

While some of them expressed hopes for a lengthier sentence, Superior Court Justice John O’Neil reminded them that Karp could still face up to 15 years behind bars if he does not abide by the conditions of his probation once released.

“These are the most difficult cases for judges to deal with because for someone who has lost a loved one, there is no justice that you feel you leave with here,” O’Neil said. “There is no punishment that the court can give that is the equivalent of giving somebody their loved one back.”

Aaron Karp and his lawyer, Verne Paradie, stand as the judge addresses them during his sentencing in Cumberland County Superior Court on Thursday. Brianna Soukup/Portland Press Herald

Karp appeared in the courtroom Thursday wearing a button-down shirt and cargo pants, speaking only to acknowledge the charge and to enter a guilty plea. His attorney, Verne Paradie, said that while they disputed some of the facts of the case, Karp agreed that a jury could find him guilty of manslaughter.

Paradie said in an interview after the hearing that the fight was an unfortunate event that could have been avoided. He said Karp feels sorry and is taking responsibility for his actions by accepting the plea deal.

THE SHOOTING

McHugh died from a single gunshot wound to the chest after a fight broke out in a parking lot near Morrill’s Corner in Portland on the night of July 30.

According to investigators, the gunfire stemmed from an argument that afternoon over wearing club colors at a Westbrook bar.

Susan’s son, Travis Frechette, and husband, Troy McHugh, who police said are part of the motorcycle group known as FSU, had confronted members of Higher Calling, a local biker group affiliated with the Outlaws Motorcycle Club. The confrontation escalated and some Higher Calling and Outlaws members appeared to follow Frechette and McHugh to Samuel’s Bar in Portland, police said.

The Outlaws, who investigators say were armed with a police-style baton, a switchblade and mini sledgehammers, began attacking the FSU members.

Travis Frechette’s partner, Taylor Swain, said she saw Susan McHugh jump out of her truck with “no hesitation” to fire at the group.

McHugh fired a single shot, and the men started to disperse. That’s when detectives said Karp was seen on surveillance footage firing nine times in McHugh’s direction.

Swain said she is still traumatized from hearing the rumble of motorcycles and gunshots.

An undated photo of Susan McHugh from when she was in the Army. Photo courtesy of the McHugh family

Hours before her death, McHugh had shared her life story and “made it clear that her family meant everything to her,” Swain said during Thursday’s hearing.

McHugh’s husband, Troy, and another FSU member were taken to the hospital with skull fractures that night. Paradie said that McHugh’s bullet hit and injured one of the Outlaws members.

Five other suspects face elevated aggravated assault charges for planning and executing the attack with Karp, and, so far, four of them will be tried together.

Police are still searching for a sixth suspect from New Hampshire. Paradie said he doesn’t anticipate that Karp’s sentence will affect the other men’s cases because they can argue the same defense that his client did.