South Burlington

Man Suspected in 2 Fatal Shootings Sunday Night in Vermont, Police Say

Denroy Dasent is charged in the fatal shooting of a man at an apartment on Pine Street in Burlington Sunday and is believed to have shot and killed another man at a motel in South Burlington later that night

WPTZ-TV

Police say they believe the same man is responsible for two separate fatal shootings in Vermont on Sunday night.

Denroy Dasent, 52, is charged with one count of second-degree murder in connection with the fatal shooting of a man at an apartment on Pine Street in Burlington on Sunday, according to WPTZ-TV. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Monday and was ordered held without bail.

Police said he is also believed to have shot and killed another person at the Swiss Host Motel & Village on Williston Road in South Burlington later that night. Charges in that case are forthcoming.

Burlington police said they responded to reports of gunfire on Pine Street in Burlington shortly after 8 p.m. Sunday and found a man, since identified as Shiekhnoor Osman, 40, dead.

Osman had previously been injured in a recent shooting at City Hall Park. He had also been arrested in December of 2021 for threatening a man with a machete.

About three hours later, at 11 p.m., South Burlington police said they responded to a report of gunfire at the Swiss Host Motel & Village. Arriving officers found a male who had been shot, later identified as Brian K. Billings, 37. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Billings and his family were staying at the motel, police said.

Dasent and his wife are the owners of "Island Passion" in the food court at University Mall in South Burlington, according to court documents.

Police said the investigation is still in its early stages and more information will be released as it continues.

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