Victim suffered gunshot wound in right arm, alleged shooter turned himself in to police
RUTLAND — The Vermont State Police continue to investigate a drive by shooting that took place at the Green Mountain Shopping Plaza in Rutland Town on Dec. 19 at 8:19 p.m.
The victim, a 45-year-old female from Rutland City, had just left Petco and was about to enter her parked vehicle. It was at that moment that the victim was shot in her right arm by a passing motorist, later identified as Michael Filinuk III, age 33, of Mountain Top, Penn.
Upon being shot, the victim (whom police have not identified) made her way to Radio Shack where she received help pending the arrival of emergency personnel. The victim was transported to Rutland Regional Medical Center where she was treated and released having suffered a gunshot induced laceration to her right arm.
At the same time she was receiving care, at approximately 8:26 p.m., an adult male entered the Rutland City Police Department and announced that he was surrendering himself for the shooting at Petco. He identified himself as Filinuk and put up no resistance to being taken into police custody.
The car thought to be used in the drive-by shooting, a 2013 Pennsylvania registered Audi SUV, was parked outside the RPD station and is registered to Filinuk.
Filinuk was lodged at the Marble Valley Correctional Center for the offense of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon. Bail was set at $50,000. Filinuk was scheduled to be arraigned at Rutland Superior Court on Dec. 21.
Vermont State Police note that the investigation is in its early stages. At this time, no motive for the shooting has been established. The initial indication is that the victim and Filinuk do not know each other.
Anyone who witnessed the shooting event who has not already come forward to the police, is asked to contact the Vermont State Police at 802-773-9101.
