Brunswick man accused of killing neighbor appears in court
Brunswick Man Charged with Murder in Neighbor’s Killing; Appears in Court
Brunswick, Maine – Keith Brunelle, 58, was brought before a judge in the Cumberland County Superior Court on Monday afternoon after police charged him with the murder of his neighbor, James Smith, 48. The shooting occurred early on September 1 at the Bay Bridge Estates mobile‑home park, where both men had lived for years.
Police first received calls of gunfire from 5 Valerie Avenue at about 12:45 a.m. on September 1. Officers found Smith dead and later arrested Brunelle on a bail‑violation charge after he had been released the previous night. He was taken into custody before 10:30 a.m. on Friday, the same day that detectives issued a warrant for a murder charge. Brunelle is also accused of criminal use of explosives, a Class C felony.
In the Monday court appearance, the magistrate read Brunelle’s indictment and appointed him an attorney. The defendant, who was wearing a yellow jumpsuit and shackles, simply answered “yes” to the judge’s instructions. He remains in custody at the Cumberland County Jail and is not eligible for bail.
An autopsy conducted by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta determined that Smith died from a gunshot wound and that the death was ruled a homicide. Police records indicate that Brunelle used a Colt‑branded revolver in the shooting. The details of the incident are still being compiled; additional court documents are impounded and were not available for release on Monday.
Brunelle has lived at 5 Valerie Avenue for at least 18 years. The mobile‑home park, located off Old Bath Road in Brunswick, was inundated with a large police presence after the shooting. One resident who was awakened by the gunfire told reporters that he heard the shots and saw a body.
The case follows a similar neighbor‑to‑neighbor homicide that took place in Brunswick in late April. In that earlier incident, 45‑year‑old Tanner Dostie was accused of stabbing and dismembering Dennis Blasens, a 61‑year‑old former Navy veteran, before setting the remains ablaze. Dostie has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial.
Maine State Police released a press statement last week summarizing the findings of the coroner’s investigation and confirming the charges brought against Brunelle. Police continue to investigate the motive and circumstances surrounding the shooting.
As of Monday, no additional suspects have been identified, and investigators are seeking further evidence that could clarify how the altercation between Brunelle and Smith escalated into a fatal gunfight. The case has drawn attention to the broader issue of violence within Brunswick’s residential communities, with local officials expressing concern over the pattern of neighbor‑to‑neighbor disputes that have led to two homicides in a span of five months.
