Police investigate fatal shooting in Eden

EDEN, Vt. (WCAX) - Vermont State Police say a man was shot and killed at a home in Eden Thursday night and that the suspect remains at large.

Troopers responded to a home at 187 Griggs Road around 10:15 p.m. for a report of shots fired. The victim is being identified as 66 year-old David Peatman. No one has been arrested. Troopers say the incident appears to be targeted and that there is no danger to the public.

“We feel that this is a targeted event and that it’s not a random event, so we would certainly be appreciative to have some tips from the public,” said Vermont State Police Maj. Dan Trudeau.

Trudeau says VSP’s Major Crime Unit, Morrisville Police, and the Lamoille County Sheriff’s Department are involved in the investigation.

The house is owned by the Peetman family. Trudeau says that there were multiple people at home at the time of the shooting. “Our crime scene search team is there now executing a search warrant. You can imagine they’re searching for anything obvious that you would think of that occurred in a shooting homicide,” he said.

Neighbors we spoke to say the rural neighborhood is usually very quiet. “I was surprised to hear someone had been shot,” said Jon Morse, a neighbor. “It’s a very quiet neighborhood. They have a lot of traffic here usually -- there are half a dozen vehicles parked outside and they’re always very friendly.”

The shooting is Vermont’s 21st homicide this year, a number not matched since 1992. Trudeau says the spike speaks to a growing level of violence. “It should be concerning to citizens of Vermont, it certainly is to all law enforcement. It probably can be attributed to a number of different factors, but long story short, it appears violence is up and the homicide numbers are showing the same,” he said.

Trudeau says detectives will be on the scene throughout Friday evening and residents can expect to see patrols as part of their investigation.

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