Vermont State Police Following continued investigation, the Vermont State Police is able to identify the victims and provide preliminary information about the circumstances of the shooting early Monday in Newport.
The deceased victim is identified as Kevin Atkins, 38, of Newport. The injured individual is Atkins’ wife, Nicole Atkins, 29, also of Newport, who suffered gunshot wounds to the neck and chest, and is reported to be stable at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire.
Initial investigation indicates the perpetrator is Paul Brown, 51, of Newport, who is the stepfather of Nicole Atkins and father-in-law of Kevin Atkins. Evidence indicates Brown shot Kevin and Nicole Atkins before fatally shooting himself early Monday morning inside a home at 74 School St. in downtown Newport. All three individuals lived in the home. Autopsies will be conducted to confirm the cause and manner of death for Kevin Atkins and Brown.
The investigation is continuing into the incident, including to determine what may have precipitated the shooting, and includes members of the Vermont State Police and Newport Police Department. Police are working closely with the Orleans County State’s Attorney’s Office in the ongoing investigation. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the state police in Derby at 802-334-8881 or Newport police at 802-334-6733.
Further updates will be provided as the investigation proceeds.
***Update, 3:30 p.m. Monday, May 4, 2020***
Capt. Scott Dunlap, commander of the Vermont State Police Major Crime Unit, and Acting Newport Police Chief Travis Bingham will be available to speak to the media at 4:15 p.m. today near the scene on School Street, just north of the intersection with Main Street.
The media availability also will be streamed live on the Vermont State Police Facebook page, FB.com/VermontStatePolice.
***Initial news release, 11:25 a.m. Monday, May 4, 2020***
The Vermont State Police has joined the Newport Police Department in investigating a fatal shooting that occurred early Monday, May 4, 2020, in the Orleans County city.
The shooting was reported just before 6 a.m. Monday at a home on School Street. Two people are deceased, and a third person was injured and transported to the hospital for treatment. Preliminary investigation indicates the shooting was an isolated incident, and there is no threat to the community.
An investigation into the shooting is in its earliest stages. Detectives with the Vermont State Police Major Crime Unit and Bureau of Criminal Investigations, joined by members of the Crime Scene Search Team, are investigating the incident in conjunction with members of the Newport Police Department.
The identities of the victims are being withheld pending notification of next of kin. The bodies will be transported to the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Burlington for autopsies to determine cause and manner of death.
Members of the public are asked to avoid School Street in Newport while the investigation is underway.
Anyone with information that could be pertinent to the investigation is asked to contact the Vermont State Police in Derby at 802-334-8881.
No further information is currently available. Updates will be provided as the investigation continues.
Source: NEWPORT, Vt. (Monday, May 4, 2020) — Vermont State Police