BETHEL — On April 26, at approximately 9:32 p.m., troopers from the Royalton barracks responded to 686 Vermont Route 14 in the town of Bethel for a reported shooting.
Troopers arrived at the residence and discovered Donald Giovanella, age 47, lying outside the residence with what appeared to be multiple gunshot wounds. Troopers pulled Giovanella to safety behind a nearby vehicle in the yard and rendered first aid to him until rescue arrived. Giovanella was subsequently airlifted to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center where he underwent surgery for several gunshot wounds. His condition was listed as stable.
A short time after troopers moved Giovanella, the owner of the residence, Dennis Dundas, age 66, appeared in the doorway. Troopers repeatedly ordered Dundas to show his hands and to walk towards them. Dundas refused. A taser was deployed, incapacitating Dundas and he was taken into custody.
On Monday, April 27, Dundas was formally charged with aggravated assault with a firearm and was lodged on $10,000 bail. He was scheduled to be arraigned on the charge Monday in Windsor District Court.
Preliminary investigation has revealed that Dundas and Giovanella were together inside Dundas’ home when a dispute broke out, resulting in Dundas shooting Giovanella with a handgun multiple times. There were no other people at the residence at the time of the shooting and no other injuries to any other parties.
The Vermont State Police Crime Scene Search Team began processing the shooting scene Monday. Investigation is continuing, reported Chief Criminal Investigator Captain J.P. Sinclair for the Vermont State Police.
