TWO MEN OPEN FIRE AT A HIGHGATE HOME OVERNIGHT, POLICE SAY
HIGHGATE: Vermont State Police shut down Route 78 in Highgate early Wednesday morning, for what they initially would only refer to as a police ‘incident.’ Wednesday morning, spokesperson Adam Silverman said the ‘incident’ being investigated is a shooting.
According to Silverman, the homeowner, 31-year-old Brian Russin, called police to report that two men had stopped at his property asking for a woman who does not live there, and Russin does not know.
The men left, but returned minutes later, firing at his home, but fled the scene before Russin could get a description of the vehicle or the men involved, according to Silverman.
The 911 report was made to police at around 12:32 am, according to Silverman. Shortly thereafter, police closed the roadway to look for evidence.
The State Highway was closed around 1 am and remained closed to traffic in both directions for about two hours.
There appeared to be fresh spray paint markings in the roadway, however it was unclear if these markings had anything to do with the ongoing police incident, though it is likely that the markings were where evidence was found.
Silverman said police recovered evidence from the scene that corroborates Russin’s statements to police of a shooting.
By 4 am police had set up camp in the driveway of 2156 Vermont Route 78, which belongs to the single-family home.
Land records show the property is owned by Russin, and has been since the summer of 2018 when he purchased it from a mortgage company. The home was previously owned by Wade Baldwin & Melissa Plouffe, records show.
According to Silverman no reported injuries took place in the shooting. He noted that the investigation is ongoing, and further information may be released at a later date. If and when that happens, the County Courier will report it.
State Police would like information from members of the public. If you saw anything, you are asked to contact the St. Albans Barracks at 524-5993, and speak with Detective Michael Filipek.
Editor’s note: This story was updated from its original version to include information released by Vermont State Police.
