Burlington police are searching for a man who they say fired multiple rounds of gunfire across the city early Friday morning.
The man first discharged his weapon just before 3 a.m. in City Hall Park, near the walkway between City Hall and the Burlington City Arts building, according to a press release issued by the Burlington Police Department.
“He raised the firearm into the air and discharged a number of rounds. No one was struck,” the release said.
After firing the shots in City Hall Park, police said, the man headed east toward Church Street and up College Street. As authorities responded to the City Hall Park gunfire, they heard and received reports of additional shots “in the vicinity of upper College Street.”
Also Friday morning, the University of Vermont Police Department informed Burlington police that someone had reported gunfire at the top of Pearl Street, near Jeanne Mance Hall, according to the release.
The police did not indicate whether authorities believe these were the same shots as the ones heard near upper College Street.
Police shared a grainy photo of the man they believe shot the gun in City Hall Park. He is pictured wearing a blue quarter-zip pulled over a white button-down. He also has on khakis, red sneakers and a dark-colored cap.
Friday’s incident was the third “gunfire incident” of 2022, according to the release. Police define such incidents as the firing of a gun in a reckless or criminal manner — distinct from a shooting, in which someone is struck by gunfire.
Gunfire incidents increased dramatically in Burlington during the pandemic. Police reported 12 such events in 2020 and 14 in 2021. Between 2012 and 2018, according to department data, there were 14 gunfire incidents.
— Jack Lyons
