HARTFORD, Vt. — A suspect in a domestic assault, identified as James Luce, 19, of Queechee, received treatment for non-life-threatening injuries following a shooting involving Vermont state troopers Sunday night, May 5, in Hartford.
On Monday, police charged Luce with 1st degree aggravated domestic assault, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, and resisting arrest overnight as a result of events that occurred at the residence located at 4536 Quechee West Hartford Road.
The incident began at about 7:30 p.m. when Hartford Police Department officers responded to a call of a domestic assault with shots fired at 4536 Quechee-West Hartford Road in Hartford. Officers from Hartford and the Lebanon Police Department encountered a man armed with shotgun walking in the road near the residence. The man refused to comply with orders from the police officers but did not threaten anyone with the shotgun at that time. Shortly after, the man encountered Vermont State Police troopers who had responded to assist. The man again refused to comply with commands, and a state trooper fired at the suspect one time with a shotgun. The suspect continued to be non-compliant, and an electronic control device (Taser) was deployed to bring the man under control. He was taken into custody and transported to a hospital for treatment of minor, non-life-threatening injuries.
No police officers or other individuals were injured during this incident.
The Vermont State Police Major Crime Unit is investigating the officer-involved shooting. The names of those involved are being withheld as the investigation remains in its preliminary stages. Per standard Vermont State Police policy, the trooper involved will be placed on paid administrative leave for a minimum of five days, after which the trooper will return to administrative duty while the investigation is under review by the Vermont Attorney General’s Office and the Windsor County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Further information will be released when it becomes available.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Vermont State Police in Royalton at 802-234-9933.
Luce was due in court on Monday on Hartford Police Department charges related to the domestic assault. Information regarding these charges will be released by the Hartford Police Department.
As your daily newspaper, we are committed to providing you with important local news coverage for Sullivan County and the surrounding areas.