Poultney, Vt.
Michael Battles, 32, was killed during a standoff at his residence as troopers were trying to arrest him on a charge of aggravated domestic assault, Vermont State Police said in a statement released late Friday afternoon.
Police said he was shot after he pointed a gun at officers.
After arriving, police said they made numerous attempts to negotiate with Battles. Then troopers breached the residence’s front door using a “tactical vehicle” at about 1:40 am. Battles then appeared in the doorway and at one point stepped out onto the porch, according to the statement.
Troopers saw what they believed to be a holster on his side but nothing in his hands at that time, police said. He then went back into the residence, and shut the door, and remained out of sight, police said.
Shortly after 2 a.m., troopers saw Battles through a second-story window above the front door “brandishing” a lit flashlight with both hands pointing it out the window as if it were a gun, the statement read.
“Troopers heard Battles say something to the effect of ‘wait until you see this’ and ‘You’re gonna get more than you expected,’ ” according the statement.
“Troopers lost sight of Battles in the window for a short time and then observed him reappear holding a silver revolver and pointing it downward at the troopers on the ground,” the statement added. “Fearing for their safety, troopers responded immediately by firing multiple rounds at Battles who then dropped to the floor.”
Upon entering into the residence, Battles was found dead on the floor inside the second-story window, according to police.
Battles, police said, had a silver revolver in his right hand and what appeared to be a second firearm inside a holster on his hip.
Police said five troopers, all members of the Tactical Services Unit, fired multiple rounds from their department-issued patrol rifles.
This investigation is ongoing