​LaBelle dies in Swanton shooting; Mulholland charged with murder

Vermont Game Warden Dustin Snyder stands guard at the crime scene as yellow markers indicate possible evidence. (COUNTY COURIER PHOTO BY GREGORY LAMOUREUX)

By MIKE DONOGHUE
Islander Staff Writer

SWANTON – The shooting of  Swanton man has turned into a homicide and appears to be over a fight concerning petting a dog, officials said.

Kyle A. LaBelle, 32, of Swanton died from multiple gunshot wounds Friday night as doctors tied to save his life at the UVM Medical Center in Burlington, police said.

Police jailed James A. Mulholland, 22, of Swanton on a charge of first degree murder at the Northwest State Correctional Facility in St. Albans early Saturday, records show.

Franklin County Deputy State’s Attorney Diane Wheeler said Judge Scott Kline, after finding probable cause for the murder charge, ordered Mulholland held without bail.

Wheeler said she expects Mullholland will be arraigned Monday afternoon in Vermont Superior Court in St. Albans.

The two men, who were believed to be acquaintances, got into an argument on 2nd Street near Greenwich Street in the village shortly before 3 p.m., police said.
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Swanton Officer Dean Scott was in the area and arrived  quickly on the scene to take the shooter into custody, Wheeler said.

Police recovered a .22-caliber semiautomatic at the scene.

Preliminary reports indicate that about 11 shots may have been fired. 

The victims’ three children were in the area, officials said.
 
Investigators said the shooting was captured on at least two videos.  One was by a bystander and at least one other was from a security system at a home.

Initial reports indicated one man pulled a handgun from his waistband and fired several times at close range, striking the second man in the stomach and chest, police said.

Missisquoi Valley Rescue rushed LaBelle to the UVM Medical Center in Burlington due to the serious nature of the multiple gunshot wounds, police said.

Mulholland gave investigators a statement after being caught at the scene by Swanton Village Police, who are working with state police on the case.

Investigators  are asking anyone with information or who may have witnessed the shooting to call Swanton Police at (802) 868-4100.

Little is known about Mulholland.

LaBelle, who police initially said was 31, was arrested in April on a charge of suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, records show.

Trooper Dylan LaMere reported he made a traffic stop for an undisclosed reason on Lake Street in Swanton about 5:55 p.m. April 15, police said.

​Police took LaBelle to the state police barracks in St. Albans, processed for suspected DUI, and released on a citation ordering him to appear in criminal court on July 13.

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