By Gillian Graham

Staff Writer

As family and friends gathered to mark the lives of Derek and Gage Greene last week, authorities released more information about their shooting deaths.

Brothers Derek Greene, 21, and Gage Greene, 19, were allegedly shot to death by Rory Holland in front of his South Street home in Biddeford around 1 a.m. June 30. Both men died shortly after arriving at Southern Maine Medical Center. Holland surrendered to police following a standoff that lasted several hours and was charged with two murder counts, according to police.

Following a candlelight vigil on June 30, family and friends again gathered to remember Derek and Gage Greene during a Mass of Celebration of Life Friday at Holy Spirit Parish St. Martha’s Church in Kennebunk. Derek and Gage Greene are survived by their mother, Tammy Cole of Buxton; brothers Shawn Carson of Buxton and Chandler Greene III and Devon Greene, both of Biddeford; and grandparents Doris Greene, Roger Chambers Sr. and Clara Chambers.

Mourners filled the pews as pallbearers wearing memorial T-shirts and red and black bandanas carried two caskets into the church to the strains of “Amazing Grace.” The caskets were draped in white cloth and topped with embroidered baseball hats.  The procession included dozens of family members, many leaning on each other for support and wiping tears from their eyes.

Father James Brewer of St. Philip Parish in Lyman presided over the funeral with Father Tom Murphy of St. Martha’s. Brewer encouraged mourners to remember neither brother died alone and to take comfort in memories of the “love, laughter and youthful playfulness both Gage and Derek possessed and radiated to others.”

Brewer said the family’s life “came crashing down in unimaginable pain” when their “hopes, dreams, plans and aspirations for Derek and Gage’s future came to a screeching halt.” He urged family and friends to not let themselves be consumed by hate and revenge, but let the justice system work while focusing on remembering the brothers.

“There is so much anger, hatred and violence in our world today that we don’t need to add to it. Two wrongs don’t make a right,” he said. “Perhaps the greatest tribute you can give to Gage and Derek is to make a point to not let one day pass without performing a kind act for another person.”

Family members remembered Derek and Gage Greene as understanding, funny and always willing to help out. During the eulogy, family members recounted the summers the brothers spent by the pool with their cousins, their love of fishing and games of dress-up they often played when they were young. Derek Greene expressed his individuality through tattoos and loved to watch the show “Overhaul.” Gage Greene was remembered for his love of the Red Sox and his third birthday, when he spotted the man in a Barney costume and declared “Barney ate a man,” according to family.

“Never did you see Derek without Gage or Gage without Derek,” said one family member during the service.

Four photo collages in the church showed Derek and Gage Greene throughout their lives. The dark-haired brothers, often pictured together, posed for the camera in Halloween costumes and with family members. One photo showed Gage Greene wearing his first pair of glasses, while another captured a very young Derek Greene sleeping with socks on his hands.

On Tuesday morning, several memorials continued to mark the spots where Derek and Gage Greene were shot. The brown fence in front of Holland’s house at 56 South St. has been spray painted with words including “RIP D and Gage.” A poster with photos and messages from friends hangs on the fence below a letter from Derek and Gage Greene’s cousin. Crosses, candles and signs fill a raised island in the intersection in front of Holland’s house.

Bentley’s Saloon in Arundel has scheduled a “Gage and Derek Greene Memorial Bike Run” to help the family pay funeral expenses. All proceeds will be donated to the Gage and Derek Greene Fund at Key Bank. The event begins with registration at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, July 18, at Bentley’s on Route 1 in Arundel. The ride starts at 10:30 a.m. The cost is $25 per motorcycle.

New details about the murders were released this week through court documents filed in York County Superior Court. According to a criminal complaint filed by Detective Michael Zabarsky of the Maine State Police, Kurtis White, a friend of Derek and Gage Greene, witnessed the shootings. White told Zabarsky he was riding his bicycle on South Street when he saw Gage Green and Rory Holland standing by the street. 

Zabarsky said White saw Gage Greene push Holland, who was wearing a suit jacket and knit beanie hat. Holland then took a step back, pulled a small black handgun from his belt area and shot Greene, according to court documents. 

White approached Gage, who was lying on the ground, to help him but Holland pointed the gun at White and told him to back up, according to Zabarsky. Derek Greene then approached his brother from across the street and Holland “immediately” shot him, according to the criminal complaint. Derek Greene then stumbled in the street and collapsed. 

According to Zabarsky, White pointed police in the direction of Holland’s house when they arrived on scene several minutes later. Biddeford Police Sgt. Jeffrey Greene said several people on scene reported Holland had retreated into his house with a handgun, according to Zabarsky.

Friends of Derek and Gage Greene said last week the brothers had a history with Holland. Zabarsky also interviewed Brandon Bernardini, who had been with Derek and Gage Greene, White and other friends earlier in the evening. Bernardini told Zabarsky they had been drinking before deciding to visit a friend on Alfred Street who owed Gage Greene money. After leaving the friend’s house, the friends traveled separately back to Gage Greene’s Williams Court apartment about a block away from Holland’s house, according to the complaint.

Bernardini said Derek Greene was walking on the opposite side of the street from Holland’s home because the two men had an altercation about a month ago. Bernardini said Derek Greene said he was arrested for assault because he punched Holland after the older man allegedly touched him sexually, according to the complaint.

According to the criminal complaint Bernardini said that area of South Street was well-lighted and he was able to see Gage Greene standing next to Holland on the sidewalk. Bernardini thought Holland was confronting Gage Greene and walked across the street to tell Holland to get away from his friend, according to the complaint. Holland then shot both brothers and Bernardini ran to his house to call police before going back to the scene to try to revive Derek Greene, who was unresponsive, according to the complaint.

Holland is being held at York County Jail. He did not enter a plea during his initial court appearance last week. 

Staff Writer Gillian Graham can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 213.