Vermont State Police At approximately 1105 AM troopers from the Vermont State Police and the Montpelier Police Department shot at and killed a male subject identified as Nathaniel Giffin, 32, of Essex, Vermont. The shooting occurred on the athletic field at the Montpelier High School following a bank robbery that Giffin committed at approximately 930 AM.
Vermont State Police Criminal Division detectives responded to investigate and the Crime Scene Search Team to process the scene. Also assisting were detectives from the Barre City Police Department. Preliminary investigation has revealed the following:
[WCAX TV captured the shooting.]
On Tuesday morning, 01/16/18, at approximately 0932 AM an E911 call reported that a bank robbery had just occurred at the Vermont State Employee Credit Union (VSECU) located at 1 Bailey Avenue in Montpelier. The robbery was described to involve only one male subject, later identified as Giffin, who was dressed in all black clothing and wearing a mask. Giffin brandished a handgun and demanded money from the VSECU bank tellers. Giffin left on foot with an undisclosed amount of money.
The Montpelier High School is located across the street from the VSECU. Montpelier Police Department’s Corporal Matt Knisley is the School Resource Officer. Corporal Knisley observed Giffin cross Bailey Street and begin walking down the bike path adjacent to the Montpelier High School property. Corporal Knisley drove his cruiser down the bike path behind Giffen to make contact with him. Giffin took a position on the athletic field bleachers, and Corporal Knisley observed him brandishing a silver colored handgun. At this time the high school was contacted and put into lockdown.
Numerous law enforcement agencies, including the Vermont State Police Tactical Services Unit and Crisis Negotiation Unit, immediately responded to the high school athletic field and by approximately 1012 AM Giffin was surrounded. During the next approximate 50 minutes law enforcement officers attempted to negotiate with Giffin, who during that timeframe made threatening statements toward law enforcement and included suicidal statements. Giffin continued to display the handgun and ignored orders from officers to surrender his handgun. At this time multiple officers of the Vermont State Police and Montpelier Police Department shot Giffin. Giffin was transported by ambulance to the Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin, where he was later pronounced dead. Giffin’s body was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Burlington for autopsy to determine cause and manner of death.
No law enforcement officers were injured during this incident. Preliminary investigation indicates that a total of nine officers discharged their firearms during this incident, eight of whom were Vermont State Troopers and one Montpelier Police officer. The names of the officers that discharged firearms during this incident are not being released at this time and the officers have been placed on paid administrative leave pursuant to Vermont State Police policy.
The Vermont State Police Major Crime Unit is leading this investigation consistent with all officer involved shootings in Vermont. Detectives are working in consultation with the Washington County State’s Attorney and Attorney General’s Office, both of who will conduct independent reviews upon completion of the investigation to determine whether the shooting was justified. This investigation is active and ongoing to include numerous witness interviews and scene processing in order to document and collect evidence. Anyone who has information about this incident or witnessed any of the events is encouraged to contact the State Police Major Crime Unit at 802-229-9191.
Agencies that were involved in this incident included the Montpelier Police Department, Vermont State Police, Department of Motor Vehicles, Vermont Fish and Wildlife, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, Department of Liquor Control, and the Washington County Sheriff’s Department.
Giffin is known to law enforcement and has an extensive criminal history that includes convictions for the following offenses dating back to 2002: Possession of Cocaine, Resisting Arrest, Petit Larceny, DUI, Unlawful Mischief, Unlawful Trespass, Larceny, Burglary (multiple) and Violation of Abuse Prevention Order. Giffin was convicted of a Robbery on federal charges in 2012 that involved a bank robbery that occurred in Williamstown, VT.
Source: January 16, 2018 – Montpelier – VSP