By David Harry

Staff Writer

Court officials in Farmington said they did not expect the man charged in the death of a Cape Elizabeth native to make a plea during his first court appearance.

Colt’s Neck, N.J., resident Ryan Ouimet, 23, is charged with manslaughter in the May 31 shooting death of Andrew Holland, 23.

Ouimet, released from Franklin County Jail on $10,000 bail last week, was scheduled to appear in court Wednesday, after the Sentry deadline. He is charged with firing the gun that killed Holland, said Maine Department of Public Safety Spokesman Steve McCausland.

Two days before Ouimet appeared in Franklin County Superior Court, funeral services were held for Holland, a 2006 Cape Elizabeth High School graduate who last month earned an education degree from the University of Maine in Farmington.

Holland’s parents, Ward and Lynne Holland, preferred not to comment on the death of their son, but a good friend from high school recalled him for his humor and warmth

“He was fun to be around, kind of a goofball,” Isabel Sterne said. “It is so hard to register. I feel awful.”

Described in his obituary as a politically active man with a love for the Red Sox, Holland was someone who knew what he wanted in life, Sterne said.

“Even as a junior, he knew he wanted to be a history teacher,” she said. “And he would have been a good one.”

The two lost contact after high school, but Sterne recalled she wanted Holland to be her prom date when they were juniors just because he was so enjoyable to be around.

“He was always willing to do things to make people laugh and he was smart and well-spoken,” she said.

Maine State Police investigators have released few details from the investigation into Holland’s death, but McCausland said it occurred after he was shot in the Farmington apartment of Holland and Ouimet’s mutual friend.

The shooting happened around 10:30 p.m. on May 31, and Holland was rushed to Franklin Memorial Hospital, where he died, McCausland said.

Investigators believe Ouimet shot Holland with a handgun Ouimet owned. Officials at the Office of the Maine Medical Examiner said an autopsy revealed Holland died from a gunshot to the abdomen.

McCausland said the men and apartment occupant Caroline Halloran, 23, of Acton, Mass., were all friends and recent UMF graduates. Ouimet and Holland graduated last month. Ouimet earned a degree in creative writing. Holland is a 2010 graduate of UMF, according to university press releases.

The three had worked together at a nearby Mount Vernon restaurant owned by Bob Wallack.

Wallack declined to comment on the shooting or the three friends except to say he was “deeply shocked and saddened by this tragic event. ”

“They were stellar employees with bright futures and our hearts go out to their families,” Wallack added.

Along with his parents, Holland is survived by his sister, Carolyn. 

Donations in Holland’s memory may be made to the Andrew Ward Holland Scholarship Fund at Cape Elizabeth High School, 343 Ocean House Road, Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107.

Staff Writer David Harry can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 219.