SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) Three men indicted on charges of attempted murder, elevated aggravated assault and robbery stemming from a shooting and stabbing over a small drug transaction in South Portland were back in court Tuesday morning. Two of the men were there to enter pleas of not guilty, and the third to argue bail.
Zachary Swain, 19, of Cape Elizabeth, Noah Sibole-Little, 19, of Portland and Essa Sayed, 18, of Portland were all arrested after an altercation back on March 11 at the city's recreation complex off Highland Avenue.
Police said at the time that Sayed and Swain shot and stabbed two people during what police called a drug deal involving "a relatively small quantity of marijuana."
Sibole-Little was charged later with attempted murder, elevated aggravated assault, aggravated assault and robbery. Police said he was with the other two when the attack occurred and had posted on an online classified service that he was looking to buy a handgun in the days before the shooting.
In court on Tuesday Sayed and Sibole-Little both plead not guilty to all five counts. According to the Press Herald, the judge ordered both men be held at the Cumberland County Jail while their cases are pending.
Zachary Swain was in court Tuesday to argue for his release on bail. The judge ordered him to remain in jail, the Press Herald reports.
A fourth suspect, John Albert James, was arrested earlier this month and is charged with attempted murder in connection with this case.
