Derby Barracks/Update on Shooting Incident No. 1

*Updates are red*

STATE OF VERMONT

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

VERMONT STATE POLICE

Case number: 24A5002685

RANK/FULL NAME OF SOLDIER: Tpr Nathan Handy

STATION: VSP Derby Barracks

CONTACT#: 802-334-8881

DATE/TIME: Wednesday, May 29, 2024, 4:25 p.m.

LOCATION OF INCIDENT: Walmart Supercenter, 115 Seymour Dr.

CITY: Derby, VT

OFFENSE: Shooting

Serious bodily harm

Reckless endangerment

Heavy driving without the owner’s consent (car theft)

ACCUSED: Wellington Arias

AGE: 21

CITY, STATE OF RESIDENCE: Boston, Massachusetts

VICTIM: Jason Willey
AGE: 40
CITY, STATE OF RESIDENCE: No fixed address

INCIDENT SUMMARY:

Update No. 1:

Vermont State Police have arrested Wellington Arias of Boston, MA in connection with this shooting. After arriving on the scene, officers identified a suspicious person, began following up on leads, and issued a “keep on the lookout” order for the vehicle and suspect. At approximately 5:50 p.m., an officer from St. Johnsbury Barracks was monitoring traffic and stopped a Nissan Altima traveling at 97 mph in a 65 mph zone on I-91 Northbound in Lyndonville. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Arias, who was identified by Derby Troopers as the shooter at this point in the investigation. Arias was arrested, transferred to the custody of Derby Troopers, and arraigned at Derby Barracks. The judge on duty ordered him held without bail and housed at Northern State Correctional Facility. He is scheduled to appear in Orleans Superior Court, Criminal Division, on 05/30/24 at 12:30 p.m.

The investigation into this incident continued into the evening and involved State Police Detectives, Vermont Drug Task Force Detectives, and uniformed patrol officers from the Derby and St Johnsbury Barracks processing evidence and conducting interviews. The investigation at this time indicates that a confrontation occurred between the defendant and Jason Willey in the Walmart parking lot. During this incident, the defendant fired one shot from a handgun in close proximity to Willey, which ricocheted off the asphalt, and stole a gray Chevrolet Equinox from Willey’s possession. At the time, the Walmart was open and the parking lot was occupied. Arias fled the scene immediately before patrol officers arrived and is believed to have changed vehicles before traveling south on I-91 and then briefly north again before being stopped.

During this incident, patrol officers were assisted by officers from the Newport Police Department and the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing and officers are still searching for the whereabouts of the Chevrolet Equinox, a photo of which is attached to this news release. Anyone with information is asked to call VSP Derby Barracks at 802-334-8881 or leave an anonymous tip online at. https://vsp.vermont.gov/tipsubmit.

–FIRST PUBLICATION BELOW–

Vermont State Police are investigating a shooting that occurred in Derby on Wednesday afternoon, May 29, 2024. No one was injured.

The shooting was reported around 4:25 p.m. in the parking lot outside the Walmart Supercenter. A suspect reportedly fired at least one shot at another person. The suspect reportedly fled the scene in a gray Chevrolet Equinox with unknown license plates.

According to initial investigations, this was a targeted shooting and there is no general danger to the public.

Anyone with information is asked to call VSP Derby Barracks at 802-334-8881 or submit an anonymous tip online at https://vsp.vermont.gov/tipsubmit.

No further information is available at this time. State police will provide updates as the investigation progresses.