School mourns loss of beloved bus driver
WALTHAM — A juvenile watching a fight involving two women in a Waltham neighborhood Friday evening, Sept. 15, picked up a gun dropped by one of the women and shot her multiple times, State Police report.
, 48, a resident of McKnight Lane in Waltham, was killed by gunshots to her torso, according to the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Burlington.
Police have not released the name of the shooter because of his age. No charges have been filed.
State police report that Kilbreth got into a physical altercation with another woman who also lived in the neighborhood a little before 7 p.m. on Sept. 15. One source said it appeared to be a long-simmering dispute.
Kilbreth had a handgun in her possession, but at some point she lost her grip on the gun, and the juvenile picked up the weapon and fired it, striking Kilbreth multiple times.
Someone called the authorities, who arrived shortly after, and found Kilbreth dead. A Vergennes police officer was the first on site, and Vermont State Police troopers arrived shortly thereafter. Middlebury police also came to provide assistance.
They gathered evidence, took witness statements from at least some of the estimated 30 people in the area of the shooting, and sent Kilbreth’s body to the Chief Medical Examiner’s office, where an autopsy on Saturday determined that the death was a homicide.
Kilbreth was known by many in the community as a school bus driver for the Vergennes-area schools.
In a message to the Addison Northwest School District community, Superintendent Sheila Soule called Kilbreth a beloved school bus driver.
“Our school community is in mourning, and our deepest condolences go out to Michelle’s family, friends and loved ones,” Soule wrote. “Michelle was a dedicated employee who played a vital role in ensuring the safety and well-being of our students during her time with us. Her commitment to her job and the students she served was unwavering, and she will be remembered for her kindness and dedication.”
The school district is offering support to members of that community who feel they need it in the wake of Kilbreth’s death. The ANWSD crisis response team, counselors and community mental health providers are in the schools and available to assist any students or staff who may be grappling with the impact of this tragedy, Soule wrote.
State police are working closely with the Addison County State’s Attorney’s Office, a spokesman said. The VSP Crime Scene Search Team completed its work at McKnight Lane on Saturday.
State police continue to ask that anyone with information that could assist investigators call the New Haven barracks at 802-388-4919 or provide an anonymous tip online at vsp.vermont.gov/tipsubmit.
