A suspect in a domestic assault received treatment for non-life-threatening injuries after he was shot by a state police trooper Sunday night, May 5, in Hartford.
Police said Trooper Eric Vitali of the Royalton Barracks shot James Luce, 19, of Quechee after officers arrived to a domestic assault call on Quechee at West Hartford Road where Luce had fired his gun at a home.
After Luce refused to comply with officers to drop his weapon, Vitali shot one time at Luce, which grazed his side and left him with minor injuries. Police officers also used a Taser to bring Luce under control before he was taken into custody and transported to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries.
No police officers or other individuals were injured during this incident.
Vitali was hired by the state police in 2005 and initially assigned to the Rockingham Barracks. He transferred to the Westminster Barracks in 2016 and the Royalton Barracks in 2018.
Per standard Vermont State Police policy, the trooper involved will be placed on paid administrative leave for a minimum of five days, after which the trooper will return to administrative duty while the investigation is under review by the Vermont Attorney General’s Office and the Windsor County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Further information will be released when it becomes available.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Vermont State Police in Royalton at 802-234-9933.
