by Guy Page

The New Haven, Connecticut man suspected of murdering a New Hampshire man in the White River Junction area of Hartford, VT early Thursday morning, August 21 has a lengthy arrest and conviction record of narcotics and firearms crime. A New Hampshire man arrested as an accomplice in the crime also has a drug crime record. 

Troopers identified the primary suspect as Demetrius Drew, 30, of New Haven, Connecticut. He faces charges of first-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

In 2021, Drew pleaded guilty in federal court in Connectictut to possession of a firearm while being a convicted felon. According to court documents and statements made in court, New Haven Police arrested Drew on August 18, 2020, after a court-authorized search of his residence revealed a loaded Glock model 26, 9mm pistol and a box containing 50 rounds of .38 Special ammunition.

Drew’s criminal history as of 2021 included state convictions for felony narcotics and larceny offenses.  It is a violation of federal law for a person previously convicted of a felony offense to possess a firearm or ammunition that has moved in interstate or foreign commerce, 2021 federal court documents said. The crime carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison, but clearly Drews did not serve a full term. 

Also arrested Friday were Jeffrey Mullins, 46, and Michelle Mullins, 48, both of Ringe, New Hampshire. Each is charged as an accessory before the fact. In December 2024, Mullins was arrested for failure to appear on a charge of possession of methamphetamines. 

The shooting in Hartford took place about 3:50 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 21, when police responded to a 911 call reporting a disturbance at a home on Verna Court, off VA Cutoff Road. Responding Hartford officers found two victims: David Labrecque, 65, of Canaan, New Hampshire, who was pronounced dead at the scene, and Jessica Lemay, 36, also of Canaan, who suffered multiple gunshot wounds. Lemay remains hospitalized at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire.

Lemay’s social media page says she is in a relationship with David Labrecque. 

Authorities said all three suspects were ordered jailed without bail and are scheduled to be arraigned at 12:30 p.m. Friday in the Criminal Division of Vermont Superior Court in White River Junction. Court documents, including the affidavit of probable cause, are expected to be filed and made public following the arraignments.

Police emphasized that the shooting appears to have been an isolated incident and that there is no ongoing threat to the broader community.

The investigation remains active and involves the Vermont State Police Major Crime Unit, Bureau of Criminal Investigations, Crime Scene Search Team, Field Force Division and Victim Services Unit, working in partnership with the Hartford Police Department.

Anyone with information related to this case is asked to call the Vermont State Police barracks in Royalton at 802-234-9933 or submit an anonymous tip at https://vsp.vermont.gov/tipsubmit.

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