Several people are now safe and charges are expected after people reported being shot at in Shaftsbury Friday evening.
Vermont State Police responded to the area of Erich Road, Shaftsbury, for a suspicious incident involving two people having been reportedly been shot at. Several calls were received from local residents that two people had shown up at their houses, seeking shelter from the assailant and reporting to said residents they were being shot at.
Troopers and Deputies from the Bennington County Sheriff's Department arrived in the area and began attempting to locate the subjects involved. Two people were soon found and taken into custody for their protection. These two people advised law enforcement they had been shot at by a person who resides at 127 Erich Road, Shaftsbury.
Troopers and Deputies arrived at 127 Erich Road in an attempt to make contact with the alleged shooter, identified as Gerardo Zelayagranados, 31. However, according to Vermont State Police, the person shut off the lights to the residence and refused to come outside. Troopers, Deputies, State Game Wardens and Officers from the Bennington Police Department remained on scene, maintaining a perimeter on the house and shutting down traffic on Erich Road while Detectives from the Vermont State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation unit investigated the issue further.
During the investigation, Detectives and Troopers learned the following: There were 4 people involved; the alleged offender, and 3 victims. The shooter allegedly shot into the air and the ground, not directly at the victims and never made any threats toward them (changes nature of criminal charges). None of the victims were injured. They also found that the alleged shooter was potentially impaired by drugs or alcohol or both and was in an altered state. The third victim had left the scene in their vehicle, however was located by Bennington Police and stopped as part of the investigation.
After several hours, it was decided rather than escalate the situation further, and potentially cause a deadly force or use of force situation, police withdrew from the scene without taking the offender into custody, especially given the now known level of potential criminal charges, reckless endangerment.
This investigation is still active. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Vermont State Police, Shaftsbury Field Station at 802-442-5421.