The Burlington and Winooski police departments and the Vermont State Police are among the members of a new Chittenden County Gun Violence Task Force, according to an announcement on Wednesday.
Acting Police Chief Jon Murad referred to the shooting as “a stone cold whodunit” and an incident of “great, great concern.”
By the end of July, there had been 778 reports of personal property theft, a category that includes bikes. That’s nearly twice as many as the previous five-year average of 377.
The shooting occurred at about 12:42 a.m. on Sunday. The victim was later identified as Bryan C. Rogers II, of Philadelphia.
“Kayla was the kind of woman that was not afraid to be herself,” said a former colleague. “She was proud, goal oriented, and on her way to accomplishing great things in life.”
The 21-year-old is accused of throwing objects through windows around Golden Place and Locust Terrace early Tuesday morning.
The Burlington City Council on Monday night voted to ratify a three-year contract with the city’s police union. This is the first contract agreement since the council cut the force by 30% two years ago.
"This morning’s murder and attempted murder of two young women was a terrible act of violence — among the very worst the city’s seen in the last decade,” Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger said. “Our thoughts right now are very much with the surviving victim.”
We call on Acting Chief Murad and Mayor Weinberger to stop using harmful narratives that are simply wrong. Crime statistics in Burlington actually tell a nuanced story that seldom receives our full attention.
Following Burlington’s annual report on how its policing affects people of different races, the city’s police watchdog group is asking law enforcement to work with a third party to address potential racial bias.
Black residents of the city commended the declaration by Mayor Miro Weinberger, but some also criticized the mayor for not doing enough to address systemic racism.
Some city councilors questioned Mayor Miro Weinberger’s $1.2 million “rebuilding plan,” saying the city’s ongoing police reform efforts should be top priority in next year’s budget.
On the brink of summer, the city is outpacing its previous levels of gun violence. Mayor Miro Weinberger announced a plan Thursday to address the trend.
The project to house people experiencing homelessness is facing monthslong delays because of difficulties finding an organization to manage the site, permitting obstacles and supply chain issues.
