Suspect in homicide investigations appears in court
The suspect pleaded not guilty to one count of second degree murder
The suspect pleaded not guilty to one count of second degree murder
The suspect pleaded not guilty to one count of second degree murder
The suspect in two homicides that took place in Burlington and South Burlington on Sunday appeared in court on Monday morning.
Police say Denroy Dasent, 52, is suspected of fatally shooting a man at an apartment on Pine Street in Burlington and killing another person at the Swiss Host Motel & Village on Williston Road in South Burlington later that night.
Dasent and his wife are the owners of "Island Passion" in the food court University Mall in South Burlington, according to the affidavit released after his court appearance.
During the appearance, Dasent was charged with one count of second-degree murder in the Burlington homicide on Pine Street.
Dasent pleaded not guilty to the charge and is being held without bail. More charges are expected to follow.
However, in the affidavit Dasent was recorded as saying the following:
"You understand what just said? I shot two of them...[unintelligible]. ”
Police said they responded to reports of a gunfire incident on Pine Street in Burlington and found a man, now identified as Shiekhnoor Osman, 40, dead around 8:15 p.m.
Dasent allegendly shot Osman multiple times in the chest while Osman was in bed with another person.
The person renting the aparment says he was home at the time of the homicide and didn't see Dasent shoot Osman.
About three hours later, at 11 p.m., South Burlington police were called to the Swiss Host Motel & Village after receiving a report of gunfire. Once there, police found a male victim, identified as Brian K. Billings, 37, with gunshot wounds. Billings was pronounced dead at the scene.
Billings and his family were staying at the motel. Police confirmed that Billings' family was at the motel during the incident. His family has started a GoFundMe page to help pay for funeral expenses.
The Burlington Police Department held a press conference at 1 p.m. to update both incidents.
Acting Burlington Police Chief Jon Murad said the victim in the Pine Street shooting, Sheikhnoor Osman, was also injured in a recent City Hall Park shooting. Osman was arrested in December for threatening a man with a machete.
Police say they're familiar with Dasent from about 14 incidents.
A homicide hasn't been committed in South Burlington since 2018. However, this marked the 4th murder in Burlington this year.
Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger addressed the media during Monday's press conference.
“Ending the spike in gun violence has been the city’s top priority since the spring and it will remain so until we see these shootings end," said Weinberger.