Man shoots girlfriend with gun, tells 911 'I'd never do this'

A man in Maine is imprisoned after fatally shooting his girlfriend in a hail of bullets, as reported by authorities in the Pine Tree State.

Austin Doucette, 24, is charged with murder following the death of 23-year-old Mikayla Rose DeSantis, according to the Maine State Police.

The incident took place at the Left Bank condos in Carrabassett Valley – a small town roughly 120 miles north of Portland.

A 911 call came in around 7:30pm on Sunday, law enforcement stated. The Franklin County Regional Communications Center responded to the shooting report, and state police reacted.

Paramedics found DeSantis and Doucette along Route 27, where she had sustained several gunshot wounds. 

She was taken to nearby MaineHealth Franklin Hospital in Farmington and then airlifted to Maine Medical Center in Portland, where she passed away due to her injuries.

The defendant himself called emergency services, according to court papers obtained by Portland-based CBS affiliate WGME. Police described Doucette as "extremely frantic during the call, shouting and screaming."

"I can't believe I did this," he reportedly said at one point, according to police. Doucette allegedly told the woman who was dying, "I'm sorry babe."

The caller also mentioned a firearm, claiming it had discharged accidentally, law enforcement noted. Following this, the suspect reportedly informed the dispatcher he was leaving with the victim to seek help.

The first call ended shortly after, law enforcement officials mentioned. Minutes later, the man contacted 911 again.

"My girlfriend has been shot," the caller told the dispatcher during the follow-up call, adding, "It went off by mistake."

Both calls suggested the incident was accidental.

The defendant provided the victim's first name and said she was shot in the "stomach/abdomen region," according to police.

"I could never do this," he reportedly told the dispatcher later in the second call, adding, "I don't want to be in jail."

Upon arriving at the residence, police found that Doucette was hurriedly leaving the crime scene, authorities stated. He was detained following a traffic stop the night after the shooting.

Both the deceased and the defendant worked at the Sugarloaf Mountain ski resort and were originally from Connecticut.

Investigators also examined another 911 call made by Doucette's father's girlfriend.