Crime
Milton Police Sgt. Paul Locke Shot in Ambush During Structure Fire Response on Main Street
MILTON, VT — Authorities have identified the officer wounded during an ambush on Wednesday evening in Milton as Sergeant Paul Locke, a veteran member of the Milton Police Department.
The officer was injured when gunfire erupted as public safety personnel responded to a structure fire at a residence located at 78 Main Street.
The incident unfolded shortly before 7:00 p.m., when firefighters and police officers arrived at the scene of a reported residential fire.
According to officials, a suspect inside the home opened fire on first responders, striking Sgt. Locke.
Preliminary information indicates he was shot from behind, possibly in the back, while wearing a bullet-resistant vest.
Additional reports suggest he may also have suffered a gunshot wound to the leg.
Sgt. Locke was immediately transported by Milton Rescue to the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington under police escort.
His injuries have been described as non-life-threatening, and he is currently receiving medical treatment.
The Vermont State Police’s Victim Services Unit is providing support to the officer and his family during this time.
The suspected gunman, a 38-year-old Milton resident, is believed to have barricaded himself inside the residence.
He is reportedly known to local law enforcement and has a documented history of mental health struggles.
Posts allegedly made by the suspect on social media reference auditory hallucinations and claims of being under mind control.
The Vermont State Police (VSP) has assumed command of the ongoing situation, which remains active.
A coordinated multi-agency law enforcement response is underway, involving the following VSP units and partner agencies:
- Major Crime Unit
- Bureau of Criminal Investigations
- Field Force Division
- Tactical Services Unit (SWAT)
- Bomb Squad
- Crisis Negotiation Unit
Police departments from across Chittenden and Franklin counties are assisting in securing the area.
At this time, no arrests have been made.
Authorities have emphasized that the threat appears contained to the immediate vicinity of the residence at 78 Main Street.
As of Wednesday night, Main Street remains closed between U.S. Route 7 and the East Road/North Road intersection.
A significant police presence is expected to remain in the area while the investigation and response continue. Members of the public are urged to avoid the area for their safety and to facilitate law enforcement operations.
The Vermont State Police have requested that all media inquiries be directed to the Public Information Office via email.
To ensure emergency communications remain open, the public and media are asked not to call local dispatch centers or barracks.
This remains a dynamic and evolving situation. Further updates will be provided as more information is confirmed.
Crime
Aleksandr Aleksand Shablykin Fatally Stabs Mother Zoya Shablykin and Three Others at Key Peninsula Home
Five people, including the suspect, are dead following a violent stabbing incident and subsequent deputy-involved shooting Tuesday morning in the 14000 block of 87th Avenue Court Northwest near Gig Harbor, according to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO).
Authorities identified the suspect as 32-year-old Aleksandr Aleksand Shablykin.
Investigators say the incident began as a reported protection order violation and escalated into a deadly stabbing attack in a residential cul-de-sac.
Dispatchers received the first 911 call at approximately 8:41 a.m. reporting an “order violation in progress.” According to the sheriff’s office, an adult male had gone to a residence despite a no-contact protection order involving a female occupant of the home.
Deputies later clarified that although a protection order had been granted, it had not yet been formally served to the suspect and therefore was not legally enforceable at the time.
Deputies were en route to serve the order when the situation rapidly escalated.
At approximately 9:30 a.m., additional emergency calls reported that the man was actively stabbing individuals outside the home. Witnesses described a chaotic scene, with at least one victim attacked in the middle of the street in front of multiple bystanders.
A deputy arrived on scene minutes later.
According to Officer Shelbie Boyd, spokesperson for the Pierce County Force Investigation Team (PCFIT), gunfire was reported at 9:33 a.m.
“We have the adult male suspect who was shot by the deputy,” Boyd said during a press briefing.
Shablykin was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities have not yet released specific details regarding the exchange of gunfire but confirmed that the investigation remains active.
Deputies located four adult victims at the scene.
Three were pronounced dead at the residence. A fourth victim was transported to a nearby hospital in critical condition but later succumbed to their injuries.
One of the victims was identified as 52-year-old Zoya Shablykin, the suspect’s mother.
Authorities stated that relationships between the suspect and the additional victims remain under investigation.
Witness accounts suggest that neighbors may have intervened in an attempt to stop the attack.
Court records linked to the residence show that in April 2025, Zoya Shablykin petitioned for a protection order against her adult son. The order was granted in May.
In her petition, she alleged ongoing threats, harassment, and erratic behavior, including prior physical aggression. The filing referenced concerns about his mental health and stated he had previously pushed and threatened her.
The protection order prohibited the son from possessing weapons and from coming within 1,000 feet of his mother, her home, vehicle, or workplace. The order also required him to comply with a treatment plan and prescribed medications.
Investigators confirmed that although the order had been approved by the court, it had not yet been formally served to the suspect at the time of the incident. Deputies were attempting to serve the documentation when the stabbing occurred.
Court records indicate Shablykin had multiple prior contacts with law enforcement dating back to 2020, primarily involving traffic-related offenses, including driving without a valid license and refusing to identify himself during traffic stops. Records reflect at least 14 separate cases. A 2023 trespassing charge was dismissed.
A family acquaintance told media outlets that other immediate family members were not present at the residence during the attack and were safe elsewhere at the time of the incident.
The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office and the Pierce County Force Investigation Team are continuing to investigate both the stabbing deaths and the deputy-involved shooting. Authorities have not yet released the names of the additional victims pending notification of next of kin.
Officials described the event as a tragic escalation of a domestic situation that unfolded rapidly despite law enforcement response efforts.
Further updates are expected as the investigation proceeds.