An innocent bystander was seriously injured early Monday after a man fired two gunshots into a crowd on Main Street in Burlington shortly after bars closed for the night, according to police.
Officers on patrol just after 2 a.m. heard the shots and caught 37-year-old Rashad Nashid not far from the shooting scene outside of Nectar’s, police said in a statement. Nashid, a convicted felon, was allegedly intoxicated and armed with a .38-caliber Ruger pistol when a Burlington police sergeant arrested him on South Winooski Street.
“The chief of police would like to commend the sergeant for his bravery and restraint in confronting an armed, intoxicated suspect in the direct aftermath of a shooting, and the other responding officers for safely bringing order to a dangerous and chaotic crime scene,” the department said in a statement.
Nashid was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. He appeared in federal court later Monday and was ordered held until his trial. Nashid faces up to 10 years in prison.
The 26-year-old victim was shot in the lung and is in serious condition, but she is expected to survive, according to police.
“She does not have any known ties to the suspect,” police said in a statement.
Nashid told police he’d been drinking at Nectar’s before the shooting. An “unknown male” that Nashid knew from an altercation a year earlier approached him outside of the bar, according to federal authorities.
“The defendant pulled out a gun and shot at the male in order to make the male ‘back down,'” the feds said in a statement. “The bullet instead struck an innocent bystander who happened to be standing on the sidewalk near the defendant.”
Nashid has several previous felony convictions in New Jersey, federal authorities said.
Nashid is also facing felony drug charges in Burlington and had been out of prison on conditions ahead of his trial. Cops investigating a woman’s overdose death arrested Nashid and three others in September at a Pearl Street apartment where police allegedly found 50 grams of crack cocaine, 25 grams of powdered cocaine, five grams of heroin, $5,000 cash and a loaded .357 revolver.
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one can only wonder the reasons for the delay in letting us know who the alleged shooter was….
They know who they are. Whats the holdup?
Snow Creek, how come you come you argue on one article that the attempted school shooter’s identity should not have been disclosed and here you argue there is some conspiracy for not posting the shooter’s name immediately after the event occurred? I am genuinely interested in your reasoning.
I never said his identity should not be disclosed- thats a lie.
I said he should not be treated as guilty- as he is still to be presumed innocent
Same thing here- Hence the “alleged shooter” aspect of my comment
My previous comments had to do with the same thing- due process – the presumption of innocence until proven guilty
this is very simple stuff here. I really dont think I can help you out in explaning your fundamental rights to you as you either have no interest in them or you being ignorant in regards to what they are.
The fact that this asshole was even out of jail with a rap sheet as long as his arm is proof the system is broken. Yet again the government has failed to protect its citizens. How much more are we the people supposed to take from a government that cares more for drug dealers and illegals. This guy should have never been on the streets. How are the gun laws working for all of you lefties. I dont feel any safer knowing that criminals dont give a fuck about laws and this is proof how does a guy that is out on conditions get his hands on a gun? Oh thats right he got it legally NOT. It might be time to bring back public hangings. My heart goes out to the victim of this preventable crime. Time to press the restart button on our elected officials and to get a government that works for and protects the people of this nation.
Burlington used to be a fun place to visit. Unfortunately Church St. has become a haven for the mentally ill, drunk and homeless. My understanding is that the police are hamstrung because fighting, harassment, public drunkenness and other crimes are to be ignored per the mayors office by these bums. I usually vote Democratic but this free-for-all attitude has ruined a once great destination. Sad.
What was Mr Nasid doing out of prison “on conditions”. What judge allowed that? OOPs, probably he’s back out on the street by now. And Senator Baruth would like you to give up your gun, while the likes of Mr. Nasid is running around loose.
What is with all you salty commenters? From what you all say, it sounds as if the streets of Burlington are filled with heroin, debauchery, crime and vagrants. Perhaps you should compare Burlington to cities like Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, New York, Boston or LA.
Also, citizen, perhaps you should take a xanax before your carotid bursts. “It might be time to bring back public hangings” – are you serious…?
Clearly a fine young man. Perhaps the UVM students can block traffic for him or go starve themselves.
Shaking my head–at the out-of-control gun violence in Burlington, at these comments, and at myself because (minus the jab at Senator Baruth), the first part of Mr. Moses’ comment came close to matching my own.
Yes, congrats to the police official who was courageous in successfully doing the job he signed up for and gets paid to do.
Now, let us all try to work together (ending this divisive talk) to reform our mental health and criminal justice system, starting by FUNDING as needed carefully considered government agencies. That may mean RAISING REVENUE from those who can afford to pay more (i.e. those who have seen large gains over the last decade-plus).
Turn off the polarizing media messages and inform ourselves: How do we uphold the rights of all and fully fund necessary public programs? If you don’t have a specific and constructively functional idea, be quiet and listen to the folks with experience both hired and elected to serve.
I was born and raised in Burlington and we never had but a single murder in the entire 22 year period that I was growing up there; and you could feel, literally, the terror that gripped the city during that period.
This incident simply proves the decline in the way of life that has occured in Burlington, and the state, since the 60’s. I know Nectar, and how upset he would become if anyone was disorderly around his place of business. He is upset I am sure to be connected with this in any way, if, indeed he still owns the pub. This incident is crazy!
The bum who committed this stupid act needs to have the book thrown at him and spend decades in the slammer.
It makes one wonder, also, what part the progressive leanings of Burlington’s leadership has played in the decline into decadence in Burlington and the state as a whole since the 60’s. The connection is obvious to me and the Burlington area had better embrace more conservative ideals and governance or you should expect this type of nonsense to only get worse, much worse; the new pot law will NOT HELP in this regard!!!!
It is sad for me to witness this event knowing how wonderful life was growing up there.
It sounds to me that there may have been another person involved with this incident. Maybe wait til the investigation is complete to jump to conclusions.
It seems like one person was involved in drunken recklessness with guns, but there may be another person who contributed to this incident. If the shooter is to be believed – they may have used a gun as well. From the description it seems like the suspect pretty much confessed on the spot.
were the police unable to confiscate his gun under Vermont law when he was arrested for the September incident?
“Just wanted to let you know we’ve pulled your comments from the story about the shooting outside of Nectar’s. You’re essentially equating all nonwhite people with a person who shot someone outside of a nightclub here. As we discussed the other day, that kind of comment falls way outside of our commenting guidelines.”
this was the comment I got to let me know that they were pulling my comment.
All for saying that black people moving here are the main cause for the increase in violence in burlington. Something that left wing sources confirm with their own outrage over the higher arrest rates of black men in Burlington. Apparently reality is now a target to be silenced.
As Snow Creek says, we did pull a comment that made sweeping generalizations about race; that’s not permitted in our comments section.
We ask that commenters adhere to our commenting guidelines: be respectful, be constructive and stay on topic among them. You can read all of those guidelines right here: http://7dvt.co/comment-guidelines
Thanks, everyone, for helping to keep the conversation civil and productive.
Marianne1: I was born in Rutland state hospital and am at least fourth generation Vermonter. But thanks for the archetypal nativist tone I expect from bitter Vermonters that love to demand their state back from those god awful flat landers and terrible out of state UVM students.
Also, the violent crime rate in 2014 was 0.102%, whilst in 1974 it was 0.075%. If it was really so safe back then, then how come violent crime has only increased by a factor of 1.36? Perhaps all the older adults here are idealizing their past and imagining it as a safer, easier time.
*For reference, the most violent state is Alaska with a violent crime rate of 0.8%
Well Marianne, there is one running for political office who didn’t originally come here to be mayor . Infinite came here to destroy lives by dealing crack. And yes according to your type just bringing up this sordid fact is racist . Shame on those who practice this moral relativism . Rashad is Infinite a few decades later. Maybe he can run for mayor in 2050 . I’m sure you will vote for him.
I love Politians and people spouting off that don’t know how the criminal court works or the current state statute s or U.S. Code.
So what laws would have prevented this..
These are just his Conditions of Release(COR) which he violated:
-Not to enter any establishment with a liquor license
-Not to possess or have a firearm(s)
-Not to be under the influence of or possess alcohol
-Not to be under the influence of or possess a controlled substance
-Not to associate with other felons
-Participate in rehab.- I take it Nectars has qualified therapists.
City Ordinances, State and federal laws(to name a few) that he violated:
-Felon in possession of a firearm. F/S
-Reckless endangerment
-Public intoxication
-Assault with a deadly weapon
-Possession of a controlled substance
-Possession of narcotics
-Illegal firearm transfer, AKA “Straw purchase”
-Discharging a firearm in BTV city limits
And those are just the beginning.
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Because a crime is committed by this guy, who in not white… it become a referendum on people of color? Holy crap, Im shocked at the amount of racist comments I read. How about the white guy who nearly bludgeoned his wife to death, or the sick o, white woman who shot the social worker, or the creepy white couple that killed that young teacher… and a bizzilion more…we are dealing with a drug epidemic, which draws all kinds of low lifes to our area. You want this kind of random violence to stop, then address the opiate and drug crisis, address our mental health funding… but for god sakes, get out of the white extremist gutter, calling for public hangings??? Good god, what the hell is the matter with you?
The story says the shooter is facing up to 10 years in prison. That would be such cruel and unusual punishment.
Must be because he was drunk and wasn’t aiming at her.
Lets see….this useless protoplasm has two prior felony convictions and is somehow still on the streets, gets caught AGAIN with a loaded firearm and is RELEASED again(!) on bail….what could possibly go wrong? Hopefully CNN and MSNBC will quickly empanel some of their moron experts and place the blame for this shooting where it belongs: on the NRA!
The real tragedy is that Vt State Trooper Fast Draw Brown was not on duty on Church St when we really needed him!
Snow Creek, dont you have a KKK meeting to attend? Thankfully the moderators pulled you disgusting comments. Seems youd be more at home with other like minded racists and conspiracy theory wackos over at Infowars or similar nutcase website.
Several of the commenters here have criticized myself and snow creek for wanting the system to hold violent offenders accountable. Some have gone as far to accuse snow creek of being involved in the KKK, to those of you that want to turn our want for a safe place to live and work into us be racist I say its time to come to reality. This country is a land of law and order and if laws are not to be followed what is the point of living here. Maybe all the denounces want to live in a lawless country where no one is safe. Sound like a real nice place. Reminds me of lovely Syria or one of the shitholes Trump referred. And yes people lost of other countries on this planet are shitholes and several of you want to turn America into one.
I also find it hard to believe that a bunch of people that want to remove the guns from law abiding citizens are defending a criminal that used a gun to harm an innocent person.
Coleyc how is it racist to point out the fact that Mr. Nashid was already connected to a crime that involved drugs and a firearm and he should have been in jail not out on the streets. You say that drugs are causing many of the problems our state is experiencing and I agree with you on that. So how does standing up for someone no matter what color they are that is providing the drugs solving the problem. Its not racist to hold a criminal accountable. But it is niave to go around accusing others that are just as concerned about the states problems of being racist.
In Miro and Brandon’s eyes, the best approach is to eliminate the inanimate object, except for themselves to own.
gee is TOO EASY TO GET A GUN OR WHAT?
Guns don’t kill people, people kill people drugs don’t kill people people kill people,……. that being said if someone is let out on bail and they do this shit,……..right to prison and lose the fucking key no one instilled the golden rule to this individual do not kill. His behavior more than suggest he will kill soon. I don’t know if an ankle bracelet / taser combo would work but maybe we should have a panic button we can push that would drop the felon if he wore an (ankle bracelet / taser combo).
Thanks Bernie Sanders Vermont has steadily gone down hill since you arrived…….please go back to New York City…..