Police: Two men dead in Burlington shooting Sunday, plus second report of gunfire

Burlington Free Press

Two men were shot dead Sunday night on Decatur Street in the city's Old North End, according to Burlington police.

Police said they responded to a call about gunfire at a residence on Decatur Street at about 9:13 p.m. and found two men with gunshot wounds to the head.

Anthony R. Smith Jr., age 26 of Vergennes, was deceased upon police arrival and appeared to be shot by Khalif M. Jones, 27, of Stowe. Jones was seriously injured at the time and later died at UVM Medical Center shortly before 11 p.m.

A residence at 4 Decatur St., in Burlington's Old North End, was the site of a double homicide on Nov. 12, 2023.

The two men were not residents of the apartment but were found together in one of the rooms, according to Burlington Police Chief Jon Murad. Evidence collected at the scene indicated there was another firearm at the house. Police believe it is possible Jones was shot by the second gun and by a person other than Smith.

Evidence of drug trafficking

Detectives are investigating and didn't say whether they had any leads on a person of interest. They believe this incident was contained to the parties involved and pose no specific threat to the general public.

Police said there was evidence of drug trafficking at the residence and the person who called police believed the shootings were drug related.

The department is asking anyone with information to contact Burlington Police Department at (802) 658-2704.

Burlington Police Chief Jon Murad talks to media and the public via livestream at a press conference on Nov. 13, 2023, about a double homicide in Burlington. Mayor Miro Weinberger, right, also expressed his concerns about public safety in Burlington and ways the city is addressing gun violence.

Second reports of gunfire Sunday

Police received reports from people hearing gunfire near 101 Main St. shortly before 8 p.m. Sunday, but do not know if the two incidents are related.

"Responding officers did not find any victims or perpetrators. Witnesses reported seeing two males flee, in apparent possession of a firearm," police wrote in the news release. "Patrol officers recovered ballistics evidence sufficient to confirm a gunfire incident, which they categorized as a misdemeanor reckless endangerment."

Police said the Sunday events were the 12th and 13th gunfire incidents of 2023, compared to at total of 26 gunfire incidents in 2022.

This story may updated.

Burlington Police left a note on a door requesting camera footage for Nov. 12, 2023. A double homicide took place in the same building as this residence on the corner of Decatur St. and Intervale Ave. in Burlington.

BPD news release

The following is the complete text of the Burlington Police Department news release:

UPDATE: November 13, 2023The two adult male victims have been named – Khalif M. Jones, 27, of Stowe, and Anthony R.Smith, Jr., 26, of Vergennes. The Burlington Police Department sends condolences to thefamilies.

The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information about this incident is asked tocontact the Burlington Police Department at (802) 658-2704.NARRATIVE:This is a preliminary press release about an ongoing investigation.At approximately 2113 hours on Sunday, November 12, 2023, dispatchers with the Burlington Police Department received calls about gunfire at a residence on Decatur Street. Police from the BPD’s Patrol Services Bureau responded and found two adult male victims, one deceased and one seriously injured. Both had been shot in the head. Members of the Burlington Fire Department transported the injured male to the University of Vermont Medical Center while BPD officers, with assistance from officers from the University of Vermont Police Department,created a crime scene and began to collect evidence and statements. Just before 2300 hours officers at the hospital reported that the second victim had also died. The BPD is working to identify the decedents and then notify next of kin. Members of the BPD’s Detective Services Bureau now have the case, aided by members of the Chittenden County Gun Violence Task Force. This is an ongoing investigation in its earliest stages. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Burlington Police Department at (802) 658-2704. Information is preliminary and subject to change.

Burlington Police can be seen on the left sidewalk and right sidewalk canvassing an Old North End street on Nov. 13, 2023, the day after a double homicide in the neighborhood.

Prior to this incident, at approximately 1956 hours on Sunday, callers reported hearing gunfire in the vicinity of 101 Main Street. Responding officers did not find any victims or perpetrators. Witnesses reported seeing two males flee, in apparent possession of a firearm. Patrol officers recovered ballistics evidence sufficient to confirm a gunfire incident, which they categorized as a misdemeanor reckless endangerment (incident 23BU026912). They referred the incident to the detective bureau for follow up. It is currently unknown if the two incidents are related.These are, respectively, the 12th and 13th gunfire incidents of 2023. There were 26 gunfire incidents in 2022. The BPD defines a gunfire incident as one in which there is probable cause that a firearm was discharged in Burlington and reasonable suspicion that it was discharged in a criminal manner. Some gunfire incidents may also be “shooting,” in which a person is struck by gunfire and injured (an aggravated assault or attempted murder) or killed (a murder).

Contact reporter April Barton at abarton@freepressmedia.com or 802-660-1854. Follow her on Twitter @aprildbarton.