Reggie CondraBURLINGTON, Vt. -
Reggie Condra now has a bullet lodged beneath his armpit -- one centimeter from his lung. Doctors say he's lucky to be alive. "It could be a lot worse. I'm grateful that I am doing as well as I am," he said Monday.
The 25-year-old librarian was walking alone to a friend's house Friday night. When he reached Intervale Avenue and Crombie Street he says he was mugged by two men he didn't know. He handed over his phone, debit card, passport and keys. Then they told him to run.
"He did show me he had a gun. I knew the situation was out of my control," Condra said.
The gunman allegedly fired once in the air. The second shot hit Condra in the back. "I mean, I was kind of in disbelief after it happened. I felt an ache on my side and I had heard the gunshots because they were right by me," he said. "I thought somehow it would be worse and I wouldn't move, but I ran away from the scene."
Detectives are now hunting for the men depicted in composite sketches. Both suspects are described as black men in their 20s. Police consider them armed and dangerous.
"It's very disturbing and that's why this is priority number one for us," said Burlington Police Chief Andi Higbee.
This is the second mugging at that intersection within three weeks. Last month a Domino's delivery driver was robbed by two masked men carrying guns. Police are investigating if the cases could be connected.
"We would be silly not to be looking at any possible similarities, so we're definitely going over that," Higbee said.
"I probably won't be walking around alone too much anymore," Reggie Condra said.
He said he won't let fear take over, but the bullet in his back is a reminder he can't take his safety for granted. "It just...kind of brings that more to reality that you can't really guarantee anything," he added.
If anyone has any information about the suspects in the sketches, or the crime, they're asked to call Burlington Police. They're offering a cash reward leading to the arrest of the two men involved.
As for Condra -- he hopes to be back in the stacks at the library next week.
