Shooter remains on loose in Vernon incident; victim was shot several times
May 12—VERNON — Police planned to return today to the scene of Tuesday's shooting on Terrace Drive to continue gathering evidence and conducting interviews.
Lt. William Meier said today that detectives made progress on the case as they worked through the night, to include the arrest of two people, but there is still more of the story to uncover and the shooter remains on the loose.
Police were called to the Park West Apartments shortly after 4 p.m. Tuesday, they said, for a report that a man had been shot. First responders found a young adult in his 20s suffering from multiple gunshot wounds and treated him as best they could until he was transported to Rockville General Hospital and then to Hartford Hospital by Life Star helicopter, Meier said.
On Tuesday, Police Chief James Kenny said the shooting victim was shot in the torso and there was considerable bleeding from the injury.
As of late last night, the man remained in critical condition, Meier said today.
Although the shooter hasn't been found, police said they know the shooting wasn't random, as the suspect and victim knew each other. They also learned that the victim, while not necessarily a resident, did have some connection to the apartment in front of which the shooting occurred.
What exactly led to the shooting, however, is still unclear, Meier said.
The two people who police have arrested in connection with the case were involved in the disturbance and were found in possession of a knife and club. Meier said one is a juvenile and the other an older teenager. He didn't have information on their identities or charges this morning.
Meier said there are still several more people police are looking for in connection with the incident.
Vernon police detectives received aid in their investigation from state police and members of the Manchester, South Windsor, and Glastonbury Police departments.
Anyone who witnessed the shooting or has information about it is asked to call the Police Department at 860-872-9126.
As investigators worked into the night, curious neighbors looked on, and a TV blared from one resident's apartment news of the shooting just feet away. An hour after the incident, police were seen going door to door in the area seeking witnesses and a woman was overheard telling a detective she heard the gunshot but saw no one running.
Another woman told police she heard the "pow, pow, pow" of the shooting.
A large area was cordoned off with yellow crime tape Tuesday evening and a bundle of clothing laid where the victim was worked on by emergency personnel.
Journal Inquirer staff photographer Jim Michaud contributed to this story.
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