BURKE — A Rhode Island man, Brenden Sackal, 30, is facing multiple charges, including attempted aggravated murder, following a shootout with Vermont State Police on Sunday, July 14. Sackal’s charges could result in a life sentence without parole if convicted.
A judge in Caledonia County issued an arrest warrant for Sackal on Tuesday, July 16. The charges include three counts of attempted aggravated murder, three counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, two counts of aggravated assault with a weapon, grossly negligent operation of a motor vehicle, attempting to elude law enforcement, and seven counts of possession of a large-capacity ammunition feeding device.
Sackal remains in critical but stable condition at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire, after being shot by Vermont State Police. The incident began when Sackal, sought for possessing illegal high-capacity firearm magazines, fled from U.S. Border Patrol agents in Pittsburg, New Hampshire, leading to a pursuit into Vermont.
On Vermont Route 114 in Burke, Sackal crashed his pickup truck after colliding with two state police cruisers. As troopers attempted to arrest him, Sackal opened fire. Sgt. Joshua Mikkola and Trooper Richard Berlandy, both from the Derby Barracks, returned fire, injuring Sackal. No officers were injured.
Vermont State Police, in collaboration with the Caledonia County State’s Attorney’s Office, continue to investigate the incident. The troopers involved have been placed on paid relief-from-duty status, standard procedure following an officer-involved shooting.
The pursuit started after Rhode Island police executed a search warrant at Sackal’s home on July 12 but failed to locate him. Sackal’s vehicle was later spotted by U.S. Border Patrol in Pittsburg, New Hampshire, leading to a multi-state chase.
During the pursuit, U.S. Customs and Border Protection used a tire-deflation device on Sackal’s truck near the Vermont-New Hampshire border. Despite flat tires, Sackal continued driving at slow speeds until reaching Burke, Vermont, where the confrontation with state police occurred.
