Man dies of gunshot at Occupy Vermont camp
Michael Winter, USA TODAY
Update at 7:49 p.m. ET: Occupy Burlington protesters have clashed with police after the chief said the park needed to close for 24 hours so today's fatal shooting could be investigated, The Burlington Free Press now says. One woman was briefly detained.
The confrontation came after a city officials met with Occupy organizers to discuss the future of the encampment. Police Chief Michael Schirling said tents may be banned.
Across the country, the mayor of Portland, Ore., announced that Occupy camps would be evicted from two downtown parks at 12:01 a.m. Sunday.
Update at 5:28 p.m. ET: The unidentified 35-year-old man has died of his wound, authorities say, according to The Burlington Free Press.
City officials plan a 6 p.m. ET city hall meeting with Occupy Burlington protesters to discuss the future of the encampment.
Update at 3:48 p.m. ET: The victim may have shot himself, The Burlington Free Press reports, citing "multiple people" at the Occupy Vermont-Burlington encampment. He was removed from his tent around 2:20 p.m. ET, about 20 minutes after police received a 911 call.
"We do not believe the public is at risk," Burlington Deputy Police Chief Andi Higbee said.
Police were seeking a warrant to search the man's tent and said it would be several hours before they would know more.
Update at 3:26 p.m. ET: The victim is a 35-year-old man whose condition is described as grave, The Burlington Free Press reports.
Police said they have recovered a weapon. No mention of whether a suspect is in custody.
Original post by Douglas Stanglin:
Police and emergency crews in Vermont responded to an apparent shooting at City Hall Park where an Occupy Burlington encampment has been since Oct. 28, the Burlington Free Press reports.
A man was removed from a green tent where blood was evident, the newspaper says, but the victim's condition is not immediately clear.
Police marked off the encampment with police tape.
"Some people are inside the tape, some are at the edges of the park hugging and crying," the newspaper reports.
Police have marked off the the encampment with police tape.
"Some people are inside the tape, some are at the edges of the park are hugging and crying," the newspaper reports.
Nov. 10, 2011