Editions: e-Edition | Lite | Mobile | Twitter | Facebook | RSS | Subscribe
Manage: My Account | Logout

RutlandHerald.com - We Are Vermont

Police describe 'violent gun battle' in Proctor

Updated with details from press conference 3:25 p.m.



John Walters, 51, of Proctor was shot multiple times by a Vermont State Police sergeant in a gunfight Wednesday night.
Toolbox

Herald Staff - Published: November 20, 2008

The man who was shot in Proctor on Wednesday night by a Vermont State Police sergeant is in serious but stable condition at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H., police said this afternoon.

State Police Col. James Baker said John Walters, 51, of Proctor was hit multiple times in what was called "a violent gun battle" in a bedroom with Sgt. Thomas Mozzer.

Mozzer had been called to 9 River St. after a call for a welfare check by Walters' wife, Grace.

A warrant has been issued out of Rutland District Court for Walters' arrest on a charge of attempted second-degree murder related to the shootout. Mozzer was not shot in the gun fight.

A neighbor reported hearing three "loud pops" and seeing people flee a two-story home at 9 River St., the residence of John and Grace Walters.

At about 10:10 p.m. Wednesday police could be heard on the police frequency scanner responding to shots fired in an incident on River Street involving a chest wound.

A man on a stretcher was wheeled into a waiting ambulance as police combed through the home.

At the scene this morning, police vehicles, including the state police mobile command center, blocked off one end of River Street and the state police mobile crime lab was parked outside the house of John and Grace Walters.

State Police Lt. Warren Whitney said that investigators were working inside the house and referred all other questions to the State Police Barracks in Rutland. He would say that the investigating officer is a sergeant from the Bradford barracks.

Neighbors said that the family largely kept to themselves, but that police have been at the house on several occasions.

Walters faces life in prison if convicted of the attempted second-degree murder charge.







READER COMMENTS


Vermont is no longer the quiet peaceful state anymore. This I agree on. But to go on carrying on, is saddening. Why aren't we giving both The Walters family, as well as Sgt. Mozzers Family respect? Seriously, their lives have both been changed drastically in the blink of an eye. Johns children and wife are devastated, I am sure. Shouldn't we all allow them their peace to heal?
-- Posted by Michelle Stuhlmueller on Fri, Nov 21, 2008, 4:37 pm EST

report this comment


barabra" so I guess it would be ok with you if the trooer was shot and killed leaving his wife and four small children and this man wielding a gun went free? It sure seems ignorant don't you think? The trooper didn't just pick a random house and decide hey I am going to shoot someone tonight,,,Mr walters made that decision..Mr. Walters made the choice Not to comply..Mr Walters was willing to take the trooper away from his family that night..the trooper was there to protect this man ..Mr walters made the choice of how it would end! Maybe you should really investigate what has to happen before a trooper or any police officer pulls out his weapon..it is called use of force..they don't just go around shooting at will...and two shootings? well barbara wake up rutland is not mayberry anymore
-- Posted by mrs c on Fri, Nov 21, 2008, 6:03 am EST

report this comment


OH, excuse me.....this incident actually involved an "on duty" VT State Police Officer"......"
-- Posted by Barbara Hohn on Thu, Nov 20, 2008, 11:44 pm EST

report this comment


PW:

There is no drama here. Listen and watch the video in which the trooper conducting the news conference alleges that the wife of Mr. Walters had to use a land line to call for police backup because the radio of the officer involved in this horror was in a geographic area where it was dysfunctional as a result of communication infrastructure.

I have no reason to doubt the word of the trooper conducting the news briefing. And yes, Douglas has a responsibility to provide whatever resources are necessary to enhance the ability of troopers in trouble to muster whatever assistance is required to protect themselves and us.

So in this instance it was not the Rutland Herald getting the story a**backward. Again, I suggest you listen and watch ALL of the video briefings.
-- Posted by Concerned About Rutland on Thu, Nov 20, 2008, 11:38 pm EST

report this comment


It seems to me that the VT State Police have been WAY to Handy with their guns lately. Two incidents in the past ..what?? less than a month are way than too many by off duty officers. What is going on in Vermont here, is this like every officer for himself or what???? Vigilante Justice, If you have a Badge and a gun you can do what you want???????
-- Posted by Barbara Hohn on Thu, Nov 20, 2008, 11:17 pm EST

report this comment


My heart goes out to the family of John Walters and to Sgt Thomas Mozzer. This is what can happen when you mix drugs and alcohol . It makes people do things they would not do normally. I think you are going to see more and more suicides take place as more people lose their jobs. I know that depression is a hard thing to deal with. I believe that Sgt. Mozzer did what he had to do to survive. It was a tragic situation for all people concerned. I was listening to it as it was happening it was very sad to hear shot fired man down.I Hope that the family of John can move forward and that Sgt.Mozzer can deal with the tragedy. it must be tough on him.Best of luck to all. post by Kathy K. from Mt.Holly
-- Posted by kATHY kAEMMERLEN on Thu, Nov 20, 2008, 9:42 pm EST

report this comment


New laws for anything about guns or better radios wouldn't have stopped this. Folks need to remember that the Herald at best gets about half the story right and usually not in the order that it happened. I have done business with this family and this night was completely out of character for John, fueled by pills and alcohol. Vermont is not becoming any more violent today than yesterday. Will things like this happen more-with an ailing economy and economic pressures, job losses on more families you bet it will happen more often. There is no great failure of govt. here or anything else other than a person with addiction making the typical poor choices one makes when using drugs. It is extremely unfortunate for everyone involved. No trooper goes on duty hoping he will have to use his weapon-in fact, he was probably justified in using more force than he did. The truth is none of was there but as is typical of these blogs there are kinds of drama, calling on the governor, claiming a spate of violence,etc. No need for drama. Just remember it could be you or your family if drunk enough, depressed enough, angry enough. Tragic all around.
-- Posted by PW on Thu, Nov 20, 2008, 8:07 pm EST

report this comment


Vermont is becoming a violent place.

What is behind the spate of violence that has been happening in VT in recent months?

I hope VTers will ask themselves that question.
-- Posted by mark on Thu, Nov 20, 2008, 7:26 pm EST

report this comment


Let's hope that Douglas and his administration will take whatever steps are necessary to insure the safety of both law enforcement agents and citizens by demanding appropriate steps be taken immediately to mediate the alleged inability of police units in Vermont to communicate each with the other in the event of an emergency. If this failure arises from the lack of alleged cell phone towers, fix the problem.

A minimally disfigured landscape is NO excuse not to correct this alleged problem. It is the moral and ethical responsibility of Douglas and his administration to act NOW to insure the safety of law enforcement agents and the citizens of Vermont by making certain appropriate communication infrastructure is in place in the event of emergencies of whatever sort.

Were no lessons learned earlier in this century?
-- Posted by Concerned About Rutland on Thu, Nov 20, 2008, 5:13 pm EST

report this comment


Please know that my above comments were made before the News conference. I do still ask that the Herald Remember there is an innocent family involved here.
-- Posted by Rob Townshend on Thu, Nov 20, 2008, 4:47 pm EST

report this comment


I was under the impression that HIPPA Laws were enforced at RHMC. Why would the hospital comment on a patient? There is a real life family involved here and I am disappointed but not surprised by all the speculation I am seeing in the Herald today!
-- Posted by Rob Townshend on Thu, Nov 20, 2008, 1:30 pm EST

report this comment

You must be logged in to leave a comment. Register | Log In

Logout