On May 8, 2019

Police shoot Quechee man following domestic assault

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.

Do you want to submit feedback to the editor?

Send Us An Email!

Related Posts

Robert Hecker appointed to Killington Select Board

May 15, 2024
By Curt Peterson Robert Hecker has been appointed to take Steve Finneron’s seat on the Killington Select Board. The announcement came after an executive session Monday night May 13. The position lasts until next Town Meeting Day vote, when voters will choose the person to fulfill the remaining year of Finneron’s term.  Hecker was one…

Town resolves eminent domain 

May 15, 2024
Deal with landowner called ‘win-win’ By Polly Mikula The town of Killington will not pursue an eminent domain hearing scheduled for May 20, having recently resolved the case with the landowner.  Eva Nagymihaly and her sister, Theresa Rust, own land on the east side at the base of Killington Road to the intersection with Route…

Logging company fined for wetland and water quality impacts in Bridgewater, Thetford

May 15, 2024
The Agency of Natural Resources Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Vermont Forests, Parks, and Recreation (FPR) announced May 8 that Thomson Timber Harvesting and Trucking LLC (Thompson Timber), a company that performs logging activities in Vermont, was fined $32,550 for violating the Vermont Wetland Rules and failing to follow acceptable management practices (AMPs) for…

Wonderfeet Kids’ Museum celebrates expansion

May 15, 2024
By Polly Mikula Saturday, May 11, Wonderfeet Kids’ Museum held a grand opening celebration from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Merchants Row downtown. While the museum relocated to its current location (66 Merchants Row) last spring, this was the first time the organization has celebrated that expansion. The move allowed Wonderfeet Kids’ Museum to tripled in size with new…