BURLINGTON, Vt. — Short-staffed with an increase in serious “priority 1” calls for the year, police in Burlington had another busy weekend, this time responding to a double shooting at the Marketplace Parking Garage around 2 a.m. on Saturday.
According to initial reports, an officer likely contributed to saving the life of one of the victims.
“One of the victims had an abdominal wound and received potentially life-saving tactical field medicine intervention from officers on scene,” according to a statement by the Burlington Police Department.
The incident is currently listed as an attempted homicide. The shooting suspect is described as an “unknown black male” who was “among a larger group when the shooting occurred.” His picture was captured by surveillance video and can be seen in this WCAX report.
Of the three victims, one is reported as in stable condition, but initially was listed in critical condition. Another incurred non-life-threatening injuries and was released shortly afterward. Another reportedly had minor injuries and declined treatments.
That same day, at 1:01 p.m., the BPD responded to a head-on car collision involving excessive speed and alcohol, the department reported. According to the initial investigation, a motorist tried to pass a car on the Heineberg Bridge and failed to maintain control, resulting in the collision. Two passengers in the oncoming car were taken to the hospital, and one of them had “life-threatening injuries.”
It’s been a busy month for the BPD. The department put out a press release on March 17 announcing a completed a sting operation on a drug dealer from out of state. Police collected “a large amount of heroin/fentanyl, hundreds of pills containing fentanyl, powder cocaine, and methamphetamine,” as well as $13,000 in cash. The man, listed as from Georgia, has multiple drug convictions already in his home state.
At a Police Commission meeting last week acting Police Chief Jon Murad said that “priority 1” incidents — serious crimes including assaults, robberies, and car crashes — are at the “first highest or the second-highest of the past several years.”
In response to crime in the Queen City, local businesses have been forced to seek private security — an issue addressed in a recent commentary by Don Keelan and sent to local media.
Gov. Phil Scott signs another gun bill
In gun-related news, Gov. Phil Scott signed another gun-control bill last week. The bill prohibits guns in hospitals and extends the background check waiting period on gun purchases to seven days, up from the “default proceed” limit of three days.
Bill Moore, the police analyst for the Vermont Traditions Coalition, told True North the new gun legislation is an attack on lawful gun owners.
“S.4 is another needless affront to the rights of lawful firearms owners in Vermont,” Moore said. “It will also stretch the credibility of people seeking mental health crisis intervention services and addiction recovery services. These people now have to fear that discussing suicidal ideas may result in the loss of all their firearms and being reported by the very people they are seeking help from.”
Michael Bielawski is a reporter for True North. Send him news tips at bielawski82@yahoo.com and follow him on Twitter @TrueNorthMikeB.
Burlington should provide bullet-proof pods for protection of tourists.
You know what else gets very little mention?…the number of lives of our precious overdosing junkies that are saved by a police officer showing up first on the scene with Narcan. You wont hear about that from the “pigs in the blanket, fry ’em like bacon” crowd.
Governor Scott signs yet another bill that is a “solution” to a non-existing problem. That being S4. The state is circling the drain with other real problems in need of a solution but our legislators neglect those and persue issues that infringe on our rights. The scourge of Marxism that is developing in this state must be stopped.
Hey Burlington, here you go again, more thugs up here from the cities probably selling
their goods and sometimes a deal goes bad……………Shoot up fools !!
Burlington taxpayers should demand that the BPD, is fully staffed and funded and they
should request that the City Council members that requested to ” Defund The Police ”
step down ASAP, as they have overstepped their position by putting the public at or
in harm’s way …………………….
There is no leadership in Burlington, just agendas………. pretty pathetic, stand up people !!