BRISTOL, Vermont (Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019) — The Vermont State Police are identifying the two troopers who fired their patrol rifles as Robert Helm and Matthew Hood. They are both assigned to the New Haven Barracks.
Trooper Robert Helm, left, and Trooper Matthew Hood. VSP photos.
Trooper Helm joined the Vermont State Police in 2014 as a trooper at the Derby Barracks. He transferred to the New Haven Barracks in September 2016, then worked on temporary assignment at the Rutland Barracks from November 2017 to February 2018 before returning to New Haven.
Trooper Hood began work as a trooper at the Rutland Barracks in January 2018 before transferring to New Haven in November 2019.
The Bristol Police Department officer who also responded to the call is identified as Jori Fairbanks.
***Update, 10:40 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4***
As the investigation continues into Tuesday night’s shooting that involved two state troopers, the Vermont State Police is identifying the man who was shot as Greg West, 28, of Bristol. West is a resident of the Lower Notch Road home where the incident occurred.
Preliminary investigation has determined the following: At about 9:50 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3, a 911 call was placed from a relative of West’s at the Lower Notch Road home. The caller reported that West was intoxicated, threatening and had damaged the home, and that there were several children inside. The caller also indicated that West had a shotgun.
Two state troopers and an officer with the Bristol Police Department responded to the residence. They encountered West on the steep driveway between the home and Lower Notch Road. The troopers and the officer had several verbal exchanges with West, trying to de-escalate the situation, offering to get help for West and encouraging him to put down the shotgun. West ultimately refused to drop the shotgun, and the two troopers fired multiple rounds from their patrol rifles, striking West multiple times.
The troopers and the Bristol officer then immediately rendered first aid to West and called an ambulance to the scene. Rescue crews brought West to a medical helicopter, which airlifted him to the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington. West underwent surgery and was in critical but stable condition as of 9 a.m. Wednesday.
Detectives with the Vermont State Police Major Crime Unit and Bureau of Criminal Investigations, joined by members of the Crime Scene Search Team and Field Force Division, are continuing to investigate the incident, from the domestic violence that is alleged to have occurred prior to police involvement through the circumstances surrounding the officer-involved shooting.
Investigators ask that anyone who might have information about this incident contact the New Haven Barracks at 802-388-4919.
Updates will be provided when more information is available.
***Update, 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4***
The suspect who was shot by police is reported to be in critical but stable condition and undergoing surgery at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington.
The Vermont State Police plans to hold a media availability at 10:30 a.m. at the New Haven Barracks, 2490 Ethan Allen Highway (U.S. Route 7).
***Initial news release, 4 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4***
Two Vermont State Police troopers and a Bristol police officer responding to a domestic violence call at a home on Lower Notch Road in Bristol were confronted by a suspect armed with a firearm late Tuesday night, Dec. 3, 2019. The preliminary investigation shows that after the suspect refused verbal commands to drop the weapon, the troopers fired at and struck the suspect. He was transported by helicopter to the University of Vermont Medical Center for treatment. His current status is unknown.
No one else, including the two troopers, was injured during the encounter. The shooting occurred at about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday.
The investigation into this incident is in its earliest stages and involves the state police’s Major Crime Unit, Bureau of Criminal Investigations, Crime Scene Search Team and Field Force Division. The name of the suspect will be released following notification of relatives and further investigation.
The names of the troopers are being withheld in accordance with standard Vermont State Police policy during the initial stages of the investigation. Per policy, the troopers will be placed on paid administrative leave for a minimum of five days, after which the troopers will return to administrative duty while the investigation into the use of force is under review by the Vermont Attorney General’s Office and the Addison County State’s Attorney’s Office.
No further details are available at this time. More information will be released as the investigation proceeds. An update is expected later today.