17-Year-Old Charged With Attempted Murder In Vernon Shooting Case

VERNON, CT — A 17-year-old boy has been charged with attempted murder in connection with a shooting last week at a Vernon apartment complex, police said.

Vernon Police Department spokesman Lt. William Meier told Patch the teen surrendered at police headquarters late Friday evening.

The boy has also been charged with first-degree assault, the criminal use of a weapon, the use of a firearm in a Class A, B or C felony, carrying a pistol without a permit and risk of injury to a minor, according to a warrant.

The warrant was secured for the teen on May 12, the day after the shooting, Meier said.

Police had been attempting to take the boy into custody since obtaining the warrant, Meier said.

The teen was held by juvenile authorities over the weekend and was to appear in juvenile court Monday, Meier said. State law prohibits police from releasing the teen's name.

The shooting took place at 4:15 p.m. on May 11 at the Park West housing complex on Terrace Drive in Vernon. One man, described by police as a "young adult," was found with several gunshot wounds and "significant" bleeding in his torso, police said.

He was taken to Rockville General Hospital and airlifted to Hartford Hospital. He had been listed in serious condition.

Two other teenagers have been charged with weapons-related offenses in connection with the shooting. One is underage and the other has been identified by police as 18-year-old Dejon Miller. Each was armed with what police described as a "club" and the juvenile also had a bat during the altercation, police said.

Police are continuing to investigate the shooting and Meier said more arrests are expected.