Man with gun allegedly stalks woman in Vernon: police

VERNON, Conn. – On Tuesday afternoon, Vernon police responded to an active domestic disturbance involving threats to use a weapon at a residence in the city, police said Wednesday.

A male suspect, later identified as Xavier Velez, 23, of Vernon, allegedly threatened a female victim with a handgun, police said. She was able to escape the apartment and was allegedly followed by Velez for a short distance.

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The incident occurred near Skinner Road School, so school staff were immediately notified and the school secured, police said. Vernon police said their officers quickly located Velez near the residence and arrested him, but were unable to immediately locate the weapon.

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The gun was eventually found in a wooded area nearby by a Vernon police K9 team, police said, noting that the gun had a tampered serial number and a high-capacity drum magazine.

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Police said Velez was arrested and is being charged with the following charges: first-degree threatening with a firearm, first-degree assault, third-degree assault, disorderly conduct, carrying a pistol without a permit, illegal alteration of a firearms permit, first-degree reckless endangerment, illegal Possession of a large capacity magazine and obstructing a law enforcement officer.

Velez was being held on $500,000 bond and was scheduled to appear in Rockville court on Wednesday, police said.

The case is being investigated by Vernon police. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Officer Matt Guilmette at 860-873-9126.

Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer for FOX61 News. He can be reached at [email protected].

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