A Fair Haven Police Detective who fatally shot a suspect earlier this year was justified in using deadly force, Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark’s Office announced on Friday.Clark’s office will not prosecute Det. Shaun Hewitt for the fatal shooting of Kenneth Barber Jr. during an incident that occurred on June 19.At the time, Hewitt responded to a call that alleged that Barber Jr., of Castleton, was assaulting his neighbors. Barber Jr. had only recently been released from prison following a second-degree murder conviction, according to officials.Following an altercation involving several neighbors, Hewitt fired one round while Barber Jr. was attempting to leave the scene in a vehicle, according to the investigation.Clark’s office determined that Hewitt, who was trapped between the driver’s side door and the driver’s seat of the vehicle while it moved in reverse, had a reasonable belief that he was in imminent danger of death or severe harm.Barber Jr. suffered a single gunshot wound to the torso and was later pronounced dead at the hospital.The Rutland County State’s Attorney’s Office also declined to prosecute Hewitt following an independent investigation, according to the announcement from Clark’s office.
A Fair Haven Police Detective who fatally shot a suspect earlier this year was justified in using deadly force, Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark’s Office announced on Friday.
Clark’s office will not prosecute Det. Shaun Hewitt for the fatal shooting of Kenneth Barber Jr. during an incident that occurred on June 19.
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At the time, Hewitt responded to a call that alleged that Barber Jr., of Castleton, was assaulting his neighbors. Barber Jr. had only recently been released from prison following a second-degree murder conviction, according to officials.
Following an altercation involving several neighbors, Hewitt fired one round while Barber Jr. was attempting to leave the scene in a vehicle, according to the investigation.
Clark’s office determined that Hewitt, who was trapped between the driver’s side door and the driver’s seat of the vehicle while it moved in reverse, had a reasonable belief that he was in imminent danger of death or severe harm.
Barber Jr. suffered a single gunshot wound to the torso and was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
The Rutland County State’s Attorney’s Office also declined to prosecute Hewitt following an independent investigation, according to the announcement from Clark’s office.
