Schenectady man shot dead in Vermont Tuesday, February 5, 2008
RUTLAND, Vt. (AP) — Rutland police say one person is dead and another was wounded following a shooting Monday evening. Police say they have one person in custody. Police say a 29-year-old male from Schenectady died of his wounds. A second male subject, from New Jersey, was treated for his wounds at the hospital and then released. Police say that at about 3 a.m. Tuesday a 17-year-old make from Albany was located and is being questioned. Police are not releasing the names of any of the people involved in the incident.
Man charged with assault; friend killed Authorities unsure who shot gun, say the incident was drug-related BY STEVEN COOK Gazette Reporter with a wire report
A Schenectady man is dead and his friend charged with assault on Monday in Rutland, Vt., authorities said. Police in Vermont called the shooting drug-related, alleging the two men might have gone to Rutland to sell marijuana. Killed in the shooting was Carlos Vasquez, 29, of Schenectady. Ramel Ramos, 17, of Albany, was charged with aggravated assault. Authorities said it was unclear who shot Vasquez. A second man, Javon Shelton, 25, of Rutland, was wounded. Shelton told police Vasquez and Ramos traveled to Rutland to sell marijuana, but one pulled a gun during a disagreement, according to court papers cited by The Associated Press. Shelton told police he tried to take the gun away and, in the struggle, the other man pulled a gun. He heard both guns fire. Ramos fled but was arrested hours later. He pleaded innocent at his arraignment Tuesday and was ordered held on $250,000 bail. Authorities said ballistics tests would determine if the charge against Ramos would be upgraded. According to Vermont television station WCAX, Ramos told police he was on the porch at the time of the shooting and did not fire. The station also listed Vasquez as from Albany. Vasquez’ mother, Sylvia Morales, defended Ramos after the arraignment, saying she believed someone inside the apartment fired. The two were best friends, she said. “No, no, he’s not guilty. He’s not guilty. They were just like brothers. If anything, he tried to defend him, OK?” Morales said. But, the station cited affidavits state police have from several witnesses who placed Ramos inside and with a gun. Reach Gazette reporter Steven Cook at 395-3122 or scook@dailygazette.net.