Five years ago, suspect, with history of gun crime arrests, was charged as a career criminal in Massachusetts

By Guy Page

In what is described as a ‘high risk motor vehicle stop’ on the Barre-Montpelier Road, Town of Berlin police Thursday evening, May 29 arrested a Massachusetts man being sought by state police as a suspect in a May 6 shooting in St. Johnsbury.  

State police this week issued an arrest warrant for Ladjuan Anthony Guichard, 27, of Dorchester MA on a charge of attempted second-degree murder arising from the shooting of 30-year-old Adam Belliveau on Concord Avenue. Guichard also is wanted in Massachusetts on a probation violation.

At about 4:45 PM Thursday, Berlin police were told of a vehicle that was in the area of Burger King located on US Route 302 in Berlin. Guichard was believed to be in the vehicle.

Berlin Officers located the vehicle on US Rt 302 in Montpelier and along with assistance from Montpelier Police, a high risk motor vehicle stop was conducted. The occupants were identified as Guichard and 27 year old Kayla Keithan of Saint Johnsbury.

Both Guichard and Keithan were transported to the Vermont State Police Barracks in Berlin.

In the warrant, state police described Guichard as dangerous and potentially armed.

In 2019, Guichard, then 21, of Cambridge, MA was charged with armed assault with intent to murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, attempting to commit assault and battery by discharging a large capacity firearm, possession of a high capacity firearm, carrying a firearm without a license, carrying a loaded firearm, possession of ammunition, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building, and being an armed career criminal. 

The incident from which those charges occurred took place in 2019. In 2018, he was charged with what police called a ‘moving gun battle’ that left another man injured.