A Colchester man is being treated in the hospital after being shot by two Burlington police officers.
Colchester police responded to a call at the Woodland Shores mobile home park in Colchester early Monday morning after receiving a call from a woman who said her nephew, James Hemingway, was threatening suicide.
Upon arriving at Hemingway’s residence, two Colchester officers observed the 20-year-old holding a rifle and called for assistance. Officers from the Burlington and Winooski police departments responded.
While speaking with crisis negotiators by cellphone, Hemingway threatened to shoot himself and police officers. He hung up, then called 911 and said that somebody would get hurt if the police did not leave.
Hemingway left the house holding his rifle, got into his vehicle and began to drive. He had not reached the exit of the mobile home park when he stopped and got out of his vehicle. At that time, two Burlington officers fired their weapons, striking Hemingway in the abdomen and the foot, according to a news release from the Vermont State Police.
He was taken to the University of Vermont Medical Center, where he is being treated for non-life-threatening injuries, according to police.
Hemingway is scheduled to appear in Chittenden Superior Court on Tuesday morning for arraignment on charges of disorderly conduct and simple assault.
Following the police investigation into the incident, the Chittenden County State’s Attorney’s Office and the Attorney General’s Office will conduct independent reviews into the shootings.
The identities of the Burlington officers have not been released.
