VERNON, Conn. — On Tuesday afternoon, the Vernon Police Department responded to an active domestic disturbance involving the threatened use of a gun at a residence in town, police said Wednesday.
A male suspect, later identified as Xavier Velez, 23, of Vernon, allegedly threatened a female victim with a handgun, police said. She was able to flee the residence and was chased for a short distance by Velez, allegedly.
The incident occurred nearby Skinner Road School, so school staff was immediately notified and the school was secured, police said. Vernon police said their officers quickly found and detained Velez near the residence, but they could not immediately locate the gun.
The firearm was eventually found in a wooded area a short distance away by a Vernon police K9 team, police said, noting that the gun had a tampered serial number and a high-capacity drum magazine.
Police said Velez was arrested and faces the following charges: first-degree threatening with a firearm, first-degree assault, third-degree assault, disorderly conduct, carrying a pistol without a permit, illegal alteration of a firearm identification, first-degree reckless endangerment, illegal possession of a large capacity magazine, and interfering with a police officer.
Velez was held on a $500,000 bond and was scheduled to appear in Rockville court on Wednesday, police said.
The case is being investigated by Vernon police. Anyone with any information about the incident is encouraged to contact Officer Matt Guilmette at 860-873-9126.
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Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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