Vermont State Police say officers shot and killed an armed, dangerous man following a lengthy manhunt and standoff.
Police say the fatal shooting of 39-year-old Jeremy Potwin happened on Saturday in Tunbridge. They say in a statement that Potwin had been the subject of a manhunt following "an escalating series of crimes over the past several weeks.''
Vermont State Police had sent a warning to the public on Saturday about Potwin.
Police say they learned Potwin was in a home in Tunbridge holding a woman hostage. He fired multiple shots out of the home during a negotiation, they say. Police say Potwin eventually emerged from the home carrying two handguns and pointed one at police. Troopers then fired rifles, striking him fatally.
Police say the hostage is being evaluated but appears unhurt. They say an investigation into the incident is in early stages.
According to police, Potwin was wanted on two arrest warrants— violation of conditions of release and escape from probation and parole. He was convicted in 2018 for leaving the scene of a 2017 crash that killed one person in South Royalton.
Potwin was also wanted for questioning in connection with a vehicle pursuit with State Police on May 3 and an aggravated assault and kidnapping in Braintree on May 9. In the later incident, Potwin is suspected of assaulting a man associate and discharging a firearm, police said. No one was seriously injured in the incident.
