Vermont State Police Autopsies conducted Tuesday, May 5, 2020, by the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Burlington determined the cause and manner of death for the two individuals who died in Monday’s shooting in Newport.
Kevin Atkins, 38, died by gunshot wounds to the head, neck and torso, and the manner of death is homicide.
Paul Brown, 51, died by a gunshot wound to the head, and the manner of death is suicide.
Crime scene investigators have concluded their work at the home on School Street where the shooting occurred, and the scene has been released. Victim Nicole Atkins, 29, is continuing to undergo treatment for her wounds at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire, and is expected to require care for some time, although her prognosis is good. The investigation is ongoing.
***Update No. 3, 5:45 p.m. Monday, May 4, 2020***
At a news conference Monday afternoon in Newport, Vermont State Police Capt. Scott Dunlap, commander of the Major Crime Unit, shared additional details regarding the early morning shooting at 74 School Street in downtown.
Police were notified of the shooting when Kim Brown, 48, of Newport, called 911 to report the incident. She is the wife of Paul Brown and mother of victim Nicole Atkins. The Browns resided full-time at the home on School Street. Nicole Atkins and her husband, Kevin Atkins, stayed at the home on and off but listed their full-time residence as North Troy.
The Atkins’ three young children, ages 6, 5 and 2, also were in the home at the time of the shooting. They were uninjured, as was Kim Brown.
Vermont State Police’s Crime Scene Search Team continues to process the home Monday evening and gather evidence. Detectives are interviewing witnesses, neighbors and anyone else who might have information. If you know anything about the incident or those involved, please call the state police’s Derby Barracks at 802-334-8881.
Also at Monday’s news conference, Acting Newport Police Chief Travis Bingham emphasized that resources are available for members of the public who are experiencing any type of crisis during the coronavirus pandemic, including mental health issues, domestic violence or any trauma arising from Monday’s shooting. He encouraged anyone in need of assistance to contact the police department or Vermont 211 to be connected to the relevant resources.
***Update No. 2, 4:15 p.m. Monday, May 4, 2020***
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) —VSP