Vermont State Police HARTFORD, Vermont (May 6, 2019) — The Vermont State Police is identifying the member involved in this incident as Trooper Eric Vitali of the Royalton Barracks. He was hired in 2005 and initially assigned to the Rockingham Barracks. He transferred to the Westminster Barracks in 2016 and the Royalton Barracks in 2018.
Preliminary investigation shows that James Luce was armed with a shotgun, which he had just used to fire at the home located on Quechee West Hartford Road in Hartford, while he was moving away from Hartford, Vermont, and Lebanon, New Hampshire, police officers and toward members of the Vermont State Police. Luce was ordered by state police to drop the firearm and not pick it up again, but when he failed to comply, Trooper Vitali responded by firing his shotgun one time, grazing Luce. He received minor abrasions and was treated and released from Mount Ascutney Hospital.
The investigation by Vermont State Police into the officer-involved shooting is ongoing. No further information is available at this time.
***Update No. 1, 11 a.m. Monday, May 6, 2019***
The suspect in this incident is identified as James Luce, 19, of Quechee. He is due in court later today on Hartford Police Department charges related to the domestic assault. Information regarding these charges will be released by the Hartford Police Department.
***Initial news release, 12:30 a.m. Monday, May 6, 2019***
A suspect in a domestic assault received treatment for non-life-threatening injuries following a shooting involving Vermont state troopers Sunday night, May 5, 2019, in Hartford.
The incident began at about 7:30 p.m. when Hartford Police Department officers responded to a call of a domestic assault with shots fired at 4536 Quechee West Hartford Road in Hartford. Officers from Hartford and the Lebanon, New Hampshire, Police Department encountered a man armed with shotgun walking in the road near the residence. The man refused to comply with orders from the police officers but did not threaten anyone with the shotgun at that time. Shortly after, the man encountered Vermont State Police troopers who had responded to assist. The man again refused to comply with commands, and a state trooper fired at the suspect one time with a shotgun. The suspect continued to be non-compliant, and an electronic control device (Taser) was deployed to bring the man under control. He was taken into custody and transported to a hospital for treatment of minor, non-life-threatening injuries.
No police officers or other individuals were injured during this incident.
The Vermont State Police Major Crime Unit is investigating the officer-involved shooting. The names of those involved are being withheld as the investigation remains in its preliminary stages. Per standard Vermont State Police policy, the trooper involved will be placed on paid administrative leave for a minimum of five days, after which the trooper will return to administrative duty while the investigation is under review by the Vermont Attorney General’s Office and the Windsor County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Further information will be released when it becomes available.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Vermont State Police in Royalton at 802-234-9933.