BRATTLEBORO –– The Vermont State Police has identified a suspect in the March 30, 2023, shooting death of 21-year-old Tamico Williams of Hartford, Connecticut. The shooting occurred inside a residence at 14 Birge St. in Brattleboro.
An arrest warrant on a charge of second-degree murder has been issued for Elias J. Lopez, 18, of Hartford, Connecticut. He is currently in custody at the Northwest State Correctional Facility in St. Albans on an unrelated federal charge.
The Windham County State’s Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont will coordinate service of the arrest warrant.
Lopez has been jailed since Thursday, Aug. 17, following his arrest on a federal charge of drug distribution after a search warrant was executed on Linden Street in Brattleboro by federal, state and local law-enforcement agencies, including the Vermont State Police and the Vermont Drug Task Force.
According to VSP’s investigation of Williams’ homicide, the fatal shooting occurred during a physical altercation between Lopez and Mr. Williams and arose from a dispute related to selling drugs inside the Birge Street apartment.
The arrest warrant orders Lopez to be held without bail on the murder charge pending arraignment in the Criminal Division of Vermont Superior Court in Brattleboro. That hearing has yet to be scheduled.
The Vermont State Police is unable to comment further at this time. An affidavit of probable cause is filed with the court in Brattleboro.
