Shooting at reporter's Winooski apartment accidental, police say

Free Press Staff

A bullet that entered the apartment of a local television reporter last month and lodged in a box of Christmas decorations was fired accidentally, Winooski police said Tuesday.

A wire placed on Thursday, Aug. 3, 2017, shows the trajectory of a bullet that entered reporter Jack Thurston's apartment in Winooski earlier in the week.

After an investigation, police identified Tyler R. LaValley, 21, as the person who fired the gun while showing it to another person.

More:Bullet goes through reporter's window in Winooski

LaValley was considering purchasing the gun, according to police, and was attempting to disassemble the weapon when it was discharged accidentally. He said he had no prior experience handling this type of weapon.

Jack Thurston, who works for New England Cable News and NBC Boston, told the Burlington Free Press he was getting ready for bed the night of Aug. 1 when he heard "an incredibly loud sound."

A bullet entered the Winooski apartment of reporter Jack Thurston the night of Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2017, through a window, shown here.

"I knew immediately what it was," Thurston said. "I knew it was a gunshot."

Thurston was uninjured.

After a review by the Chittenden County State's Attorney's Office and after a consultation with Thurston, the incident was referred to the Winooski Police Community Justice Program.

Jack Thurston, a reporter for NBCUniversal out of Colchester, speaks on Thursday, Aug. 3, 2017 about an incident earlier in the week where a bullet came through the window of his Winooski apartment.

LaValley will have to go through a reparative process with the community and the victim. Part of the process will include firearms handling lessons, police said.