[V]ermont State Police identified a member of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department as the officer involved in a fatal shooting Friday in downtown Winooski.
Deputy Nicolas Palmier of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department shot Jesse Beshaw behind a community center on Malletts Bay Avenue after a foot chase late Friday afternoon. Beshaw, 29, of Winooski, was shot six times, according to an email statement from Maj. Glenn Hall of the state police. He was unarmed, police said.
Palmier was one of several law enforcement officers who responded to provide assistance after a Winooski Police Department officer spotted Beshaw, the subject of a September 2 arrest warrant for burglary, driving in Winooski.
Beshaw was seen going into a home on Union Street, and police set up a perimeter.
According to the statement, Beshaw emerged from the building and took off by foot. Palmier followed him behind O’Brien’s Community Center.
Footage from Palmier’s body camera reportedly shows that the officer yelled verbal commands to Beshaw, which Beshaw ignored. He appears in the footage to move toward Palmier with his right hand behind his back, according to the state police. As Beshaw advanced, Palmier fired his gun at him multiple times and Beshaw fell to the ground.
Winooski police officers arrived behind the community center began providing medical support for Beshaw, according to state police. Rescue personnel responded and pronounced him dead on the scene.
A preliminary autopsy by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner’s determined that Beshaw was shot six times in the torso and head area. A seventh shot appears to have grazed his body, according to the state police.
The statement reports that Winooski police officers knew from other investigations that Beshaw sometimes carried a handgun; however the statement Saturday reports he was not armed at the time of the shooting.
Three members of the Winooski Police Department were also involved with the situation.
State police continue to investigate. The Chittenden County State’s Attorney and the Attorney General’s Office will review the investigation once it is complete.
