Vermont State Police are investigating a non-fatal shooting in Waterbury late this morning.
No one yet is in custody and the public should expect to see a heavy police presence in Waterbury, especially along Vermont Route 100 in the vicinity of the Green Mountain Club, while the investigation is underway, according to a state police press release shortly after 1 p.m.
State police responded around 11 a.m. after receiving a call from Vermont Artisan Coffee & Tea where an adult man had come into the cafe bleeding from his arm. Owner Holly Alves said the man told staff that he had been on a snowmobile in the woods that had broken down or crashed. “He asked to use the telephone,” Alves said.
A customer in the cafe who happened to be a traveling nurse along with a staffer with experience as a firefighter offered to give the man first aid, Alves explained.
The injury looked serious enough to require medical attention and details in the man’s appearance and story seemed off, which led to a call to 911. Alves said he didn’t seem dressed to be snowmobiling.
The man was in a conference room using the telephone when he then abruptly left the cafe. He was met outside by multiple troopers responding with guns drawn. “There was a heavy police presence,” Alves said. “The guy was running from the cops.”
First responders determined the victim had been shot and he was transported by ambulance to the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, according to state police.
The investigation is in an early phase involving the State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations, Field Force Division and special teams including the K-9 Unit.
State police spokesman Adam Silverman said there were no specific details yet to share with the public about any possible suspects or vehicles connected with the incident.
“Certainly we want members of the community to be aware of this incident, to keep their eyes out, be cautious, and report anything suspicious or out of the ordinary to investigators,” he said.
Anyone with information that could assist investigators in this case is asked to call the Vermont State Police in Berlin at 802-229-9191. Tips also may be submitted anonymously online at vsp.vermont.gov/tipsubmit.
