Burlington police hold man after shotgun sighting in downtown parks

Burlington residents walking through City Hall Park or the Church Street Marketplace on Friday afternoon faced an unusual scene after police reported a man carrying a shotgun. The incident prompted multiple calls from the public and led to the detention of a local resident.

Police received the first reports around 3:17 p.m. on Friday, October 30. Dispatchers logged calls describing a male armed with a shotgun moving through the downtown area. Investigators later confirmed that the man had allegedly threatened a group of people in City Hall Park while handling the firearm. Video footage and witness statements verified that the suspect was walking through the Church Street Marketplace as described in the initial reports.

Officers identified the suspect as Jayden Sweeney, 20, of Burlington. Police located him at his residence on Cherry Street and detained him without incident. Investigators executed a court-ordered search warrant at the home. They recovered a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun along with ammunition during the search.

Sweeney has been ordered held on bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Monday, November 2, in Chittenden Superior Court. The court date will determine the next steps in his case.

Police continue to investigate the events of Friday afternoon. Investigators are seeking to speak with anyone who may have been threatened by Sweeney. They are also looking for witnesses who saw him brandishing the shotgun in the park or on the marketplace.