BEATTLEBORO, VT. (MyKeeneNow) A man was arrested this afternoon following an incident involving gunfire that began early this morning.

The Brattleboro Police Department was first called to a home on Garfield Drive around 5:10 a.m., after receiving a report that a male suspect had fired a gun into the air, according to a news release from the Hinsdale Police Department. The suspect, identified as Shane Eskra of Brattleboro, could not be located at the time.

Later, at approximately 7:05 a.m., a second call came from Hinsdale, where a man matching Eskra’s description was reportedly seen brandishing a handgun and shouting in the rear parking lot of Runnings, a sporting goods store on George’s Field Road. No shots were reported during this sighting. By the time officers arrived on the scene, the suspect had crossed back into Vermont, the release said.

Brattleboro police soon located Eskra, who was armed, and attempted to de-escalate the situation. However, Eskra fled back into Hinsdale, crossing over the Connecticut River bridges once again. Law enforcement agencies from both Vermont and New Hampshire worked together to contain Eskra, who retreated into a wooded area on Mount Wantastiquet. While there, he fired several rounds in the direction of officers.

A large perimeter was established, with multiple agencies working to ensure public safety during the incident. Several residents also reported sightings that helped authorities track Eskra’s movements. At approximately 11:50 a.m., Eskra was finally apprehended with the assistance of a New Hampshire State Police K-9 unit.

Eskra is facing several charges, including reckless conduct with a deadly weapon and criminal threatening. He is scheduled to be arraigned at the Cheshire County Eighth Circuit Court in Keene on October 17, 2024, at 1 p.m.

The incident involved cooperation from several agencies, including police departments from Brattleboro, Hinsdale, Keene, Chesterfield, Troy, Walpole, Alstead, and Winchester, as well as the Cheshire County Sheriff’s Department, New Hampshire State Police, Hinsdale Fire Department, Brattleboro Fire Department, and Rescue Inc.

Read earlier reports here: