Joshua Brissette, 35, the Burlington man accused of shooting his ex-wife Monday night pleaded not guilty to two attempted murder charges Wednesday. He is also now facing federal firearms charges in connection with the shooting.
Brissette is accused of shooting his ex-wife and attempting to shoot her current husband around 6:18 p.m. Monday on North Union Street. The victim was transported to the University of Vermont Medical Center and treated for non-fatal injuries.
U.S. Attorney Christina Nolan announced Wednesday that Brissette was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and possessing a firearm after having been convicted of a misdemeanor domestic violence crime.
A federal arrest warrant was issued for Brissette, who is currently in state custody, according to a press release from Nolan Wednesday.
Brissette was too ill to appear at the arraignment on the state charges Wednesday, his attorney, public defender Margaret Jansch, said, according to court documents. Jansch entered a pro forma not guilty plea on her client’s behalf.
Brissette is being held without bail at Northwest State Correctional Facility pending an April 23 hearing on State’s Attorney Sarah George’s motion to hold without bail.
Burlington Police received a call about the shooting Monday at around 6:18 p.m., five minutes after they had received a report that Brissette had stolen his roommate’s car from their North Champlain Street residence.
Police say Brissette then drove the stolen car to North Union Street, where he shot at his ex-wife and her current husband, hitting the woman but missing her husband. The victim identified Brissette as her attacker after the shooting.
Brissette attempted to dispose of a Mossberg model MC1 9 mm pistol at a gas station in Winooski, where it was discovered by a clerk. An empty Mossberg pistol box, two empty boxes of ammunition, and receipts for the gun and ammunition were discovered at Brissette’s residence, according to court documents, and a loaded pistol magazine was found in his roommate’s car.
Brissette turned himself into police at 11:15 p.m. after police made contact with his family members. He denied being at the victim’s residence and shooting the victim.
Brissette is facing a maximum penalty of life in prison and a minimum of 20 years in prison for each attempted murder charge. He is also facing a charge of operating the vehicle without the owner’s consent.
For the federal charges, Brissette faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, which could be served consecutively to the potential sentence for the state charges.
Nolan said in the press release that her office will “show zero tolerance for domestic violence.”
“We will use our federal gun statutes to prevent these crimes and to bring justice to offenders,” she said. “We look forward to continued support of, and collaboration with, state prosecutors to combat domestic violence in Vermont.”
Read the story on VTDigger here: Burlington man pleads not guilty to two attempted murder charges.