The Vermont State Police investigation into Sunday night’s trooper-involved shooting in Burke remains active and ongoing Monday afternoon, July 15.
The man who was shot is identified as Brenden Sackal, 30, of Hopkinton, Rhode Island. He initially was treated at Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital in St. Johnsbury and subsequently transferred to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire, where he remains Monday afternoon. He was reported to be in critical condition with non-life-threatening injuries.
The situation began Sunday evening when police in Rhode Island notified law-enforcement authorities in northern New Hampshire and Vermont that Sackal was believed to be traveling in the region and was the subject of an arrest warrant on charges related to possessing illegal high-capacity firearm magazines. Rhode Island police had executed a search warrant Friday, July 12, at Sackal’s home but were unable to locate him.
The Hopkinton Police Department told NBC5 search of his home revealed thousands of rounds of ammunition for automatic weapons and 9mm handguns. They also found “bug-out bags” full of ammo at the home. Sackel had been denied a gun permit in 2023 based on previous interactions with police, NBC5 reported. Rhode Island law requires a gun owners to receive local, state and federal approvals.
Sunday night, an agent with the U.S. Border Patrol observed Sackal’s pickup truck in the area of Pittsburg, New Hampshire, and initiated a traffic stop. After briefly pulling over, Sackal drove away, and Border Patrol agents followed him through Stewartstown, New Hampshire, and eventually into Canaan, Vermont. From Canaan, Sackal continued north on Vermont Route 114, where U.S. Customs and Border Protection used a tire-deflation device on his truck due to concerns that Sackal might try to cross the border into Canada. Sackal then headed south at relatively slow speeds on Route 114 driving on flat tires and rims, followed by Border Patrol, Customs and Border Protection and one deputy with the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department.
Vermont state troopers became involved in the area of Morgan and continued to follow Sackal with their lights and sirens activated. Once in Burke, troopers attempted to bring Sackal’s vehicle to a stop. Video reviewed by investigators shows that Sackal collided with two VSP cruisers and then lost control, with the truck coming to rest on the shoulder and partially in the northbound lane of Route 114 near Pinkham Road in Burke.
During the arrest, the suspect fired a weapon at troopers. Two troopers returned fire, injuring the suspect. Troopers took Sackal into custody and immediately began rendering first aid until rescue crews arrived. No troopers or other individuals were injured in the exchange of gunfire.
Charges in Vermont against Sackal arising from this incident are pending.
The troopers involved who fired their department-issued handguns have been placed on paid relief-from-duty status, following standard procedure after a critical incident.
The Vermont State Police Major Crime Unit investigates all officer-involved shootings in the state. When the investigation is complete, the case will be turned over to the Vermont Attorney General’s Office and the relevant county’s State’s Attorney’s Office for independent reviews of the use of force.
New Hampshire law enforcement has been made aware of Sackal’s presence at Dartmouth Hitchcock and the extraditable arrest warrant for his arrest from Rhode Island.