This is a whole different thing down here. 255 So. Investigators: Man killed cousin before deadly shootout with police "I was like, what is going on? PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Since 2014, Seven Days has allowed readers to comment on all stories posted on our website. home/garden But the 58-year-old said the pushback he got on refugees was different, fueled in part by the anti-immigrant rhetoric of the 2016 presidential campaign. The mayor and father of four stated firmly, "Refugee resettlement should not be a political issue.". In August, the Rutland Chapter of the NAACP awarded Louras its "Courage in Action Award" for his efforts on behalf of Syrian refugees. He traced it back to 2008 and 2009 during the sub-prime mortgage crisis, when out-of-state property owners began defaulting on multi-family homes in Rutland. Former Rutland Mayor's Son Killed in Gunfight With Police They walked away from the homes we had squatters," Louras said. With so many employers promising jobs, Rutland became Merdzanovic's top choice. The Rutland City and Rutland Town police officers involved in the shooting have been placed on paid administrative leave. Donovan and Kennedy said the officers actions were legally In 2010, Vermont State Police charged a Rutland police sergeant for viewing pornography on his work computer and removing a pornographic video from the police evidence locker. We'd love to hear eyewitness "It dilutes American culture; it sucks up welfare; it creates crime and racial and ethnic animosity.". Seizing the Moment FBI - Federal Bureau of Investigation Louras, the son of former Rutland mayor Christopher Louras, died within seconds or minutes of suffering a gunshot wound to his head in the shootout, a death certificate filed Tuesday with the state Department of Health stated. Rochester Grocery Store to Close, Leaving Residents in the Lurch, 6. Chance of rain 80%. Other communities, large and small, rely on professional managers, hired and overseen by elected boards, to run city hall. But people who know the 58-year old say the transition out of public life has been difficult for him. If you want a pest-free patio this spring, the most important thing you can do is take away those elements that bugs find desirable. He bleeds Rutland.". Jasper Craven covers politics for VTDigger. He can be reached at jcraven@vtdigger.org. Merdzanovic was evasive when asked at the meeting if a "no" vote would prompt her organization to look elsewhere. I don't understand how the planning process works for this. In 2016, Chris Louras, Rutland's then-mayor, announced that the city would welcome 100 refugees from war-torn Syria. We consider this matter now closed, announced Vermont Attorney General T.J. Donovan, who added that he does not consider the way Louras died to be the way the totality of his life should be judged. 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For information about our guidelines, and access to the letter form, please "I think that was a fearless approach, and color Thom Lauzon a coward, but I would not have taken that approach," Lauzon said. "Ten years in office has tempered my style a little, and it hasn't tempered Chris," said Lauzon, adding that he would have handled the refugee situation differently. At 91, he still goes to work every day at Sam Frank Distributors in downtown Rutland. "We decided that would be a great idea to try to replicate what happened at the turn of the century, when all the southern and eastern Europeans came to Rutland and built this community," he said. Both prosecutors praised police for facing a threat with I can't get past the recognition of how much more it could have impacted Rutland had it continued," Louras said. Tuesday the A.G. and the Rutland County State's Attorney announced they won't charge the four officers who returned fire: three from Rutland Both prosecutors praising police for facing a threat with bravery before anyone else was hurt. People take that for what it is genuine.". Other contributing factors to his death, the document stated, were gunshot wounds to his torso and extremities. At the same time, the other side is circulating a petition with more than 500 names calling for a public vote to oppose the refugees' relocation. Allaire noted he is optimistic a focus on addressing substance use disorders and forming neighborhood partnerships in Rutland can help strengthen his community after the encounter many here say really rattled locals. It. Even if he was clearly avoiding the microphone, Mayor Chris Louras wasn't hiding. Louras said he struggles to find solace in that. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. homes for sale No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism It didn't help when local, national and even international journalists descended on Rutland's blighted Northwest and Southwest neighborhoods, portraying the areas as ground zero in Vermont's "opiate crisis.". 'For the Love of Rutland' Documents Public and Private Sides of the Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to cloudy skies and rain overnight. Al Gobeille, Top Exec at UVM Health Network, to Resign, 5. Many who know the former mayor say this was an especially tough blow, and one he took personally. The Vermont State Police responded to the scene to continue the investigation into the officer-involved shooting. According to a press release . After Alderwoman Sharon Davis slammed him and the crowd erupted in applause, he assured a reporter, "Nothing I haven't heard before.". "I think a lot of people thought they were voting for my uncle Pete," Louras said. Donovan and Kennedy said the officers actions were legally justified under the states self-defense rules, which consider someone guiltless if they hurt or kill another person while trying to protect their own life or someone elses. Those in favor and those opposed quickly mobilized, and Rutland made national and international headlines as a microcosm of the larger refugee debate raging worldwide. In a small Vermont city: heroin, bullets, and empathy Kelly Clarkson's Home Collection Is Up to 74% Off During Way Day Deals, The Best Wayfair Way Day Deals 2023 Starting at $30, Wayfair's Way Day Sale Includes Up to 60% Off Outdoor Furniture Here's What to Shop ASAP, Amazon Has So Many Good Mother's Day Gifts on Sale Right Now. deaths, as Gov. ", "I would have preferred more advance notice. Instead, he says "people with an R next to their name," or "guy with a D next to his name." Anyone who may have information about the incident, including and photos or videos, should contact the Vermont State Police in Rutland at 802-773-9101. Cyclist Killed in Crash With Truck While Riding in Rasputitsa Race, 2. The younger Louras, Vermonts attorney general said, was in a mental health crisis when he shot seven times at officers, as well as at the entrance of the Rutland City Police Department. Mayor Chris Louras Rutland and Burlington are the only two Vermont cities in which an elected mayor functions as the day-to-day chief executive officer. VPRs Nina Keck wanted to see how the city and those most closely involved with the refugee debate have changed because of it. He keeps a model of the chopper in his city hall office along with a crushing amount of paper piled on the desk, floor and coffee table and couch. RUTLAND, Vt (NEWS10) Police officers in Rutland, Vermont shot and killed a man they say fired shots at the Rutland City Police Department building Tuesday morning then drove off. Life can be cruel and there are many twists and turns we may never understand. Vermont Wants an Equitable Cannabis Industry. Burlington's Old North End is full of restaurants and shops opened by refugees. Donovan and Rutland County States Attorney Rose Kennedy both said they wont charge the four officers who returned fire. He served 10 years active duty, maintaining and test flying CH-47 Chinook helicopters. Louras died to be the way the totality of his life should be judged. The Tangled Tale Behind the Abrupt Resignation of Middlebury Union High Schools Principal, 4. Last week, the first two of an expected 25 Syrian refugee families arrived in Rutland, Vt., a scenic, blue-collar town of 16,000 people. His paternal grandfather, Nicolaos, emigrated from Greece in 1906 to escape Ottoman Turks. As he sat in his messy office, Louras joked about making an appearance a few hours later at a local forum hosted by right-wing author Jim Simpson, who travels the country speaking out against refugees. 33-year-old Christopher Louras is struck by police bullets. If we dont get a say in this, this will be used in March.. homes for sale So besides the three refugee families that moved to Rutland, Louras is probably the one whos seen his life change the most because of how resettlement played out in this city. My issue is process. "He is very blunt. At foreclosure auctions, some four-bedroom homes have sold for less than $20,000. Louras is adamantly opposed to a vote. "Ask any employer in town. Sign up here to get a weekly email with all of VTDigger's reporting on courts and crime. Our environmental reporter is Mike Polhamus. both said they wont charge the four officers who returned fire. VTDigger publishes a wide range of stories about Vermonts educational system from early childhood education issues to public and private K-12 schools to higher education. Drugs are believed to be a factor in the Louras cousins deaths, as Gov. In the possible homicide in Salisbury case, the body of a man was discovered early Tuesday afternoon off Route 53, also known as Lake Dunmore Road. The name of the man found in Salisbury will be released following notification of his family and further investigation. Three years after placing himself in the center of Rutland's refugee resettlement debate and losing his mayoral seat, Christopher Louras only regrets the refugee families who never came. But he also believed the mayor made a crucial mistake in not informing all the members of the board of aldermen ahead of time. post your service, apartments The cousins death is still under investigation in Addison County, Donovan said.This has been a tragic event for our community, and of course, personally for my family, said Mayor Dave Allaire, Rutlands current mayor, who is related by marriage to his predecessor at city hall and to both of the Louras cousins who died, Nick and Chris.Mayor Allaire voiced his full support for the men and women of the Rutland Police Department, and thanked them for their work in a high-stress and highly dangerous situation to prevent further loss of life.Separately, Chris Louras mother, Crystal King, told NBC5, that she and Chris grandmother, Mary, loved the young man dearly and miss him every day.Life is fragile, and we need to hold our loved ones tight, Allaire said at Tuesdays news conference.Allaire noted he is optimistic a focus on addressing substance use disorders and forming neighborhood partnerships in Rutland can help strengthen his community after the encounter many here say really rattled locals.The citys Project Vision program has been working on improving the quality of life and addressing drug concerns in Rutland for years now.Drugs are believed to be a factor in the Louras cousins deaths, as Gov.