At approximately 2:30 p.m, yesterday, Swanton Station Border Patrol agents responded to request for local law enforcement to be on the lookout for a vehicle that was seen leaving the scene of a shooting that had occurred in the parking lot of the Holy Angels Church on Lake Street in Saint Albans, Vt. The vehicle was said to contain two occupants with no physical description of the subjects. The registered owner of the vehicle had an address in Swanton, Vt. Approximately 20 minutes later the unoccupied vehicle was located at a residence in Swanton, by Swanton Station Border Patrol agents.
All law enforcement officers on scene coordinated their response to keep a visual of the vehicle and house. Additional units starting searching side streets away from the immediate location. At approximately 3 p.m., two Swanton Station agents observed a male emerge from the alley next to the house on Spring Street, carrying a backpack, wearing a hoodie, and appearing as if he was in a rush to leave the area.
The agents performed a consensual encounter, with the subject, at the corner of Canada Street and Liberty Street. Through investigative techniques it was determined that there were links to the subject and the vehicle that was believed to be involved. After receiving positive witness identification that the detained suspect was the shooter, the suspect, identified as Zakk Trombly, from Burlington, Vt., was placed under arrest. A Swanton Station K9 unit was also on scene and helped to secure evidence.
“This is a great example of the regular coordination and assistance between the Swanton Sector Border Patrol and its partners in local, county and state law enforcement,” said Chief Patrol Agent John C. Pfeifer. “Swanton Sector agents work around the clock and they take great pride in protecting the communities in which they live and work.”
The victim is currently in critical condition. Trombly has been arraigned in the Franklin County Superior Court under a charge of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree today. The case is being investigated by the St. Albans Police Department and additional charges may be filed.
Further media inquiries should be directed to the St. Albans Police Department at (802) 524-2166.
The Swanton Sector is responsible for securing the land border between ports of entry in Vermont, New Hampshire and northeastern New York. The assistance of citizens is invaluable to their border security mission and they welcome community members to help them keep our nation’s borders safe and report suspicious activity at 1-800-689-3362.
For more on Customs and Border Protection’s mission at our nation’s ports of entry with CBP officers and along U.S. borders with Border Patrol agents, please visit the Border Security section of the CBP website.