MILTON — An autopsy completed Friday, April 25, on Aaron LaRoche, 38, determined he died of a gunshot wound to the head, with the manner of death ruled a suicide, according to the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office.
LaRoche shot and injured Milton police officer Sgt. Paul Locke Wednesday night before barricading himself inside his apartment on Main Street.
The injured officer is now home and recovering.
The incident began when Sgt. Locke, a 26-year veteran of the Milton Police Department, responded with firefighters to reports of smoke coming from a window at 78 Main St.
Upon arrival, Locke was shot twice – one round struck his bullet-resistant vest and another passed through one of his legs.
Following the shooting, LaRoche barricaded himself in the apartment while police attempted to establish communication and persuade him to surrender.
At approximately 11 p.m. Wednesday, after unsuccessful negotiation attempts, the Vermont State Police deployed flash-bang devices into the apartment and sent in a drone, which showed LaRoche apparently deceased.
The Vermont State Police Tactical Services Unit then entered the apartment and confirmed LaRoche had died from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
No police officers fired weapons during the incident, and no other injuries were reported.
Sgt. Locke, who has served with the department since graduating from the Vermont Police Academy in 1999, was treated at the University of Vermont Medical Center and released late Wednesday.
