Domestic dispute involving firearm leads to CT school going into ‘secured’ mode

A man allegedly threatened a woman with a gun during a domestic dispute at a home in Vernon on Tuesday and chased her when she fled the residence, which led to officials putting a nearby school in a “secured” mode.

Officers responded to a residence around 1 p.m. on an unspecified street on the report of an active domestic disturbance involving the threat of a firearm and learned that a man, who was later identified as 23-year-old Xavier Velez of Vernon, allegedly threatened a woman with a handgun, according to the Vernon Police Department.

Police said he chased the victim for a short distance when she fled the residence on foot.

According to police, officials with the nearby Skinner Road School were made aware of the incident and secured the building while officers investigated.

Officers were able to quickly find and detain Velez, who did not have a firearm on him, police said.

A police K-9 later found the firearm believed to be involved in the incident in a wooded area not far away from where Velez was detained, according to police. The gun had a serial number that had been tampered with and a high-capacity drum magazine.

Velez was arrested on charges of first-degree threatening with a firearm, first-degree assault, third-degree assault, disorderly conduct, carrying pistol without a permit, illegal alteration of a firearm identification, first-degree reckless endangerment, illegal possession of a large-capacity magazine and interfering with a police officer.

He was held on a $500,000 bond and was expected to be arraigned on Wednesday in Rockville Superior Court.

Police said they are still investigating the incident.

Anyone with information has been asked to contact Vernon Officer Matt Guilmette at 860-872-9126.