Crime
Officer Shot in Ambush During Structure Fire Response in Milton
MILTON, VT — A veteran officer with the Milton Police Department was wounded Wednesday evening after gunfire erupted during a public safety response to a structure fire in the area of 78 Main Street, authorities confirmed.
The officer, whose name is being withheld pending notification of family, was transported under police escort by Milton Rescue to University of Vermont Medical Center, where he is currently receiving medical treatment.
According to preliminary reports, the officer was shot from behind — possibly in the back — while wearing a bulletproof vest.
Additional reports indicate the officer may have also sustained a gunshot wound to the leg.
The incident began around 7:00 p.m. when public safety officials responded to a fire at a residential structure.
During the response, a suspect opened fire, injuring the officer.
The suspect — identified as a 38-year-old male resident of Milton — is reportedly barricaded inside the residence.
Law enforcement officials confirmed that the individual is well-known to police and has a history of mental health issues.
Posts on social media reportedly attributed to the suspect mention auditory hallucinations and claims of being under mind control.
The Vermont State Police (VSP) has assumed command of the ongoing situation.
In a statement released Wednesday night, VSP confirmed this is an active emergency response involving multiple agencies, including:
- VSP Major Crime Unit
- Bureau of Criminal Investigations
- Field Force Division
- Tactical Services Unit (SWAT)
- Bomb Squad
- Crisis Negotiation Unit
Local, county, state, and federal law enforcement personnel are on site and responding.
Officials have emphasized that the situation appears contained to the immediate vicinity, but members of the public are urged to avoid the area due to the ongoing law enforcement activity.
Media inquiries are being directed to the Vermont State Police Public Information Office via email.
VSP has requested that the public and media refrain from calling local barracks or dispatch centers to ensure emergency communications remain open.
This remains a fluid and active investigation.
Further updates will be released as verified information becomes available.
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.