Two teenagers have been charged following a shooting in Hartford, Vt. on March 22. Adam Perkins, 17, has pleaded innocent to attempted murder charges. Matthew Ballou, 18, has been charged with accessory before the fact.
According to witnesses, Perkins paid Ballou $100 to lure a third teenager, Gordon Briggs, to the Wright Reservoir in Hartford during the early morning hours of March 22. Perkins allegedly waited at the Reservoir with three others and shot five to seven times at Briggs when he arrived. Briggs was not hit by the gunshots.
A police officer from the Veteran's Administration (VA) Hospital nearby reported hearing gunshots and female screams around 2 am during his patrol. At 2:15 am the Hartford Police Department arrived at the deserted crime scene. The VA police officer's report that five to seven gunshots had been fired was supported by shell casings found at the scene. This evidence has led the Hartford Police to believe that the weapon used was a nine millimeter handgun, which has not been found.
Briggs reported to the Hartford Police later in the day on March 22 that he had been shot at, but was not injured. Two further witnesses came forward during the same day. The two suspects were arrested and charged shortly thereafter.
According to the Hartford Police, there were a total of seven eyewitnesses. Hartford Police Detective Lundrigan reported that he expects further charges to be pressed. Following his arrest, Perkins was sent to the State Hospital in Waterbury, Vt. where he was found competent to stand trial. He is currently being held at St. Johnsbury Correctional Facility without bail.
Should the two teenagers be convicted, Perkins faces a maximum penalty of a life sentence for attempted murder and Ballou faces up to 15 years for accessory before the fact. Both are being tried as adults.
