by Guy Page
The Burlington Police Department has long been hesitant to use the ‘gang’ word to describe large groups of young people perpetrating assaults and gun violence. But in a recent press statement, BPD came as close as it ever has come to blaming a spate of violent crimes on gangs.
When asked about gang activity in the past, Chief Jon Murad has refrained from using the term. Burlington is no stranger to big-city gang activity, as the Crips and the Bloods have been blamed for some drug dealing and a Burlington courthouse this May was defaced with ‘Crips’ spray painted in blue. Murad has said that there are local groups of young people, especially young men, who are prone to acting violently with each other and other similar groups.
But Saturday’s statement was perhaps BPD’s most explicit statement yet about gang violence in Burlington, although still without using the g-word: “These crimes have been associated with large groups of suspects and perpetrators, some of whom have been identified as juveniles….Many of the involved persons have been shown to carry firearms…”
The full press release, with minor edits for clarity and brevity, is published below.
The Burlington Police Department wants the public’s help to solve several violent crimes that have taken place in downtown Burlington over the past two weeks.
“These crimes have been associated with large groups of suspects and perpetrators, some of whom have been identified as juveniles,” an August 24 BPD statement said. “Many of the involved persons have been shown to carry firearms, and the shooting that occurred on August 11 at the A_Dog Skatepark, in which a juvenile from New York was shot in the torso, is associated with these violent acts.
Summaries of these related incidents are provided below, and select video footage is available at the following link. (Suspects who have been identified as juveniles and victims have been redacted.)
Anyone with information about any of the incidents below is asked to contact Detective Corporal Beal at (802) 540-2364.
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT
On Friday, August 9, 2024, at 11:46 pm, officers with the Burlington Police Department responded to the University of Vermont Medical Center for a late-reported assault that occurred on Main Street earlier in the night. Investigation revealed the victim was assaulted by two male suspects with firearms (colloquially “pistol whipped”), which rendered the victim unconscious. The male suspects continued to assault the victim and then fled.
JUVENILE PROBLEM
On Saturday, August 10, at 1:38 am, officers with the BPD were on foot patrol in the area of Church Street. The officers were approached by an individual stating staff at a nearby business needed assistance dealing with an aggressive individual. Investigation determined the aggressive individual was a 16-year-old juvenile. Police took the juvenile into custody and the juvenile was later released to his parents. The juvenile was issued a ticket for Disorderly Conduct as well as a trespass from the Marketplace for the remainder of the day.
RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT
On Saturday, August 10, at 11:29 pm, the BPD received multiple calls reporting the sound of gunshots in the area of the Community Bank ATM drive through on College Street.
One caller identified a group of males running around carrying firearms. Video footage obtained by investigators substantiated the calls, determining that an apparent argument took place in the alleyway between City Hall and Burlington City Arts, connecting City Hall Park with Church Street. Investigators reviewing a variety of surveillance footage of the incident observed multiple males draw concealed firearms, as well as others who displayed behavior that suggested they also had concealed firearms.
The group proceeded to chase after the two males with whom they had engaged in a confrontation, after which gunshots are heard on one source of surveillance footage, apparently coming from the vicinity of the parking garage.
No persons were injured by gunfire, and although investigators have not recovered ballistics evidence of a firearms discharge, the visual proof of the presence of guns and the audio of gunfire constitute probable cause that a firearm was discharged and reasonable suspicion that it was discharged in a criminal manner. Therefore, this incident is categorized as a gunfire incident, the seventh of 2024.
This incident was followed a few hours later by the confirmed shooting in the A_Dog Skatepark, the eighth gunfire incident of 2024. The juvenile victim in that shooting is among the persons involved in the reckless endangerment and display of firearms in the alleyway; his video image has been redacted.
ROBBERY / DISTURBANCE / AGGRAVATED ASSAULT
On Sunday, August 11, 2024, at approximately 4:13 am, BPD officers responded to a report of a large disturbance involving 10+ people. Once on scene, investigation revealed an individual was assaulted and had his wallet stolen by a group of suspects. Officers remained on scene for a short time but had to leave to respond to the skatepark shooting incident.
A short time later, BPD received reports of a large disturbance involving 15+ people (believed to be the same group from the disturbance earlier). Because of the shooting incident, no officers were able to respond.
Because of the shooting incident and the high volume of calls, which engaged both midnight shift officers, supervisors called in day shift officers early. When one arrived at 6:00 am, he was assigned to the assault case that stemmed from these disturbances. Investigation revealed a large group assaulted one individual. It was also reported that at least one person from this group produced a firearm during the assault and another person may have been cut with a knife.
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT
On Sunday, August 11, at 4:38 am, a shooting occurred at the A_Dog Skatepark on the Burlington waterfront. Please see the earlier press release. This was the eighth gunfire incident of 2024.
SIMPLE ASSAULT
On Sunday, August 18, at 2:44 am, BPD officers were on foot patrol in the area of Main Street. The officers were notified of a physical disturbance at a nearby business where an individual was on the ground being assaulted. When officers responded, 20 suspects dispersed and walked into City Hall Park away from officers. Surveillance footage shows that, prior to officers’ arrival, an individual was thrown to the ground and kicked repeatedly by a number of people.
ASSAULT & ROBBERY
On Sunday, August 18, at 3:40 am, five suspects assaulted an individual. A bystander intervened and the suspects then attacked the bystander. The suspects chased the bystander out of City Hall Park to Church Street and Main Street and knocked the bystander to the ground, assaulted the bystander, and stole the bystander’s shoes.
Upon canvasing, officers located three juveniles, ages 13, 14, and 15 years old. The 13-year-old juvenile and the 14-year-old juvenile were arrested and charged with assault and robbery, and false reports to law enforcement authorities. The 15-year-old juvenile was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct. All three juveniles were released to their guardians with juvenile citations.