As he sat in his messy office, Louras joked about making an appearance a few hours later at a local forum hosted by right-wing author Jim Simpson, who travels the country speaking out against refugees. Meanwhile, by all accounts, the three refugee families that did make it are doing well. Tags: Rutland, Chris Louras, police shooting, drive-by shooting, AR-15, Vermont State Police, Web Only, Image. Ben Cohens Cannabis Company Tries to Undo the Harm of the War on Drugs, 5. A constant presence at municipal meetings and other local gatherings, he doubles as the city's public relations director. At 91, he still goes to work every day at Sam Frank Distributors in downtown Rutland. Louras was one of only two Republicans who signed onto the bill, which former Republican governor Jim Douglas vetoed. When he was still mayor in April 2016, Louras announced the city would become Vermonts newest resettlement community and welcome 100 mostly Syrian refugees, with more expected to follow. In the possible homicide in Salisbury case, the body of a man was discovered early Tuesday afternoon off Route 53, also known as Lake Dunmore Road. It wouldn't be because of transportation infrastructure. And it was. The date, time and location of his death is listed as October 2019/unknown, according to the document. Cloudy with showers. "We feel really confident in being able to get folks placed on the ground down there," Vermont Department of Labor Commissioner Annie Noonan said. If you're looking for "ISpys," dating or LTRs, this is your scene. We consider this matter now closed, announced Vermont Louras' right forearm sports a red cross with a blood drop the result of a promise he made in 2013 to get a tattoo if Rutland broke the national record for one-day donations to a Red Cross blood drive. When he's encouraging fellow mayors to act decisively, Lauzon urges them to go "full-on Louras.". After getting stuck on railroad tracks, the driver gets out and can be seen shooting at officers, who return fire. Police say he was shot nine times and died at the hospital. Three are from Rutland City, one was from Rutland Town. Mr. Louras was owner of Nick Louras Auto Body Shop. Some questioned whether the immigrants would carry communicable diseases. "You've never heard of Agenda 21?". The Tangled Tale Behind the Abrupt Resignation of Middlebury Union High Schools Principal, 2. People respect him for that," Notte said. Other communities, large and small,. The younger Louras, Vermont's attorney general says, was in a mental health crisis when he shot seven times at officers - as well as at the entrance of the Rutland City Police Department shown in this surveillance footage - before the cops drew their own guns, striking Louras 9 times, with a fatal wound to the head. Although the two remain close, she said, "When he makes up his mind, he goes full bore. "It dilutes American culture; it sucks up welfare; it creates crime and racial and ethnic animosity.". Louras was the son of Rutlands former longtime mayor, also named Chris Louras. Anyone who may have information about the incident, including and photos or videos, should contact the Vermont State Police in Rutland at 802-773-9101. home/garden Everyone in the room knew who he was. On this issue, what I was surprised at was not the level of the contention, but the fact that it didn't abate and just simply grew," he said. The discovery came as investigators followed up on a police shootout in Rutland earlier that day, that left his cousin, Christopher Louras, 33, of Rutland, dead. Oct 29, 2019 1 Christopher George Louras RUTLAND Christopher George Louras, died at age 33. "The first thing I'm going to do is schedule a public hearing.". In prior years, Louras shaved his head, and rocked a Mohawk, for the same cause. Absolutely. He said he's not ready to self-reflect on losing his sixth reelection bid in the midst of Rutland refugee resettlement debate. Instead, he says "people with an R next to their name," or "guy with a D next to his name." There will be no criminal charges filed against four Vermont police officers who shot and killed the son of Rutland's former mayor back in October, after he led them on a chase . The family patriarch came to Rutland in search of all the same things the Syrians want today: justice, religious freedom, security and work. But it wasnt until late 2015, when former Governor Peter Shumlin announced Vermont would open its doors to Syrian refugees, that Louras saw an opportunity to act on his idea. Soon afterward, officials from Middlebury, Woodstock, Warren, Waitsfield, Brattleboro, Bennington and other communities reached out to VRRP, offering to help. At the same time, the other side is circulating a petition with more than 500 names calling for a public vote to oppose the refugees' relocation. Once you open that door, thats it, we're going to have to take hundreds of them, said Dave Trapeni, who had run against Louras in a previous mayoral race. If he wins reelection he told Seven Days he will run for a new two-year term in 2017 he will be the longest-serving mayor in Rutland history. Low 42F. Employees at Ben & Jerrys Burlington store celebrate companys commitment to fair union negotiations, Rachel Smolker: PUC snuffs out a chance to weigh in on a flawed pipeline, Kelsey Wentling: What FirstLight wont be doing for the next 10 years, Jennifer Durgin: Climate activists and evangelicals can be allies. 255 So. Champlain St. Ste. When he first left city hall, Louras worked briefly as a union representative, then for his family business, a tobacco and candy wholesaler in Rutland that the family recently sold after 75 years. His paternal grandfather, Nicolaos, emigrated from Greece in 1906 to escape Ottoman Turks. It didn't help when local, national and even international journalists descended on Rutland's blighted Northwest and Southwest neighborhoods, portraying the areas as ground zero in Vermont's "opiate crisis.". Police have said the deaths are linked, but have stopped short of calling the younger Christopher Louras a suspect in his cousins death. racist or sexually-oriented language. How do I keep bugs off my patio this spring? Earlier that morning, police said, Louras fired multiple times into the front entrance of the citys police station before he was spotted about 90 minutes later and exchanged fire with the officers. They brought up health concerns like tuberculosis, questions about employment and housing, and many, like Sharon Leonard, wondered why the city would help foreigners before attending to locals in need. Christopher Louras death, obituary: 33 year old Christopher G. Louras was killed Tuesday in an early morning Rutland Vermont shooting with officers. Champlain St. Ste. The fleeing vehicle became lodged trying to cross a set of train tracks on the edge of the large parking lot near the Amtrak train station. Will the State Pony Up? All rights reserved, Flood Warnings and Watches in Parts of New England, Man Fatally Shot After Firing at Vt. Police Station Is Ex-Mayor's Son, Vt. State Police Continue Probe Into Officer-Involved Shooting, Homicide, Man Arrested After $3M Worth of Drugs Shipped to Maine Restaurant, Tens of Thousands of New Englanders Wake Up Monday to No Power, Aerosmith Announces Farewell Tour Starting in September, Historic Season Comes to an End as Bruins Lose in Overtime of Game 7, Mild Start to the Work Week as Rain Showers Begin to Move Out. Officers won't be charged in shooting of former Rutland mayor's son, WHICH INVOLVED A HIGH- PROFILE FAMILY IN LOCAL POLITICS. Louras own grandparents had been among them, settling in Rutland after fleeing Greece. It. Vermont State Police say Louras drove by the police station around 5:30 a.m. and fired several shots into the front entrance and drove away. Police have not said how the two deaths are linked, other than the familial relationship between the two. The body, located just off the edge of the road, was reported to police by a person who spotted it while walking on the road at about 12:45 p.m. Tuesday. life or someone elses. Former Rutland mayor Christopher Louras sits at home with his dog, Raye. Phil Scott, R-Vermont, said in October. As interpreted by Simpson and the segment of the populace that insists President Barack Obama is a Muslim, it's a conspiracy between the UN and liberals to create one world government. In the first of her three part series, Nina caught up with the former mayor. post your service, apartments Louras had a wife and kids by then, but the marriage broke up after the war. Nick Louras was born July 2, 1927, in Rutland, son of Nicholas and Amalia (Alexandrides) Louras. The younger Louras,. Be Proactive. The scene in Salisbury is about a 40-minute drive from downtown Rutland. They ask that anyone with information call the state police in Rutland at 802-773-9101. Cyclist Killed in Crash With Truck While Riding in Rasputitsa Race, 2. I can't get past the recognition of how much more it could have impacted Rutland had it continued," Louras said. Right in Rutland: Will Mayor Chris Louras Fall on His Sword for 100 Syrians? Final Reading: When will the legislative session wrap up? While weve appreciated the suggestions and insights, the time has come to shut them down at least temporarily. Louras said he struggles to find solace in that. For information about our guidelines, and access to the letter form, please The organization knew little about Rutland, and had never considered the city as a possible destination, director Amila Merdzanovic said. Use the 'Report' link on Vermont Public's News CoverageGovernment & Politics | The Vermont Economy | Criminal Justice & Public Safety | Arts & Culture | Education | Health | Energy & Environment | Food & Agriculture | Series & Specials, Investigations | Brave Little State | Vermont Edition | New England News Collaborative (NENC) | VPR Archive, PublishedSeptember 22, 2019 at 9:06 PM EDT. A non-profit organization is restoring the properties, much to the delight of neighbors. Vermont Gov. Louras was the son of Rutland's former longtime mayor, also named Chris Louras. The Vermont State Police learned that a mans body was discovered off of Vermont Route 53, also known as Lake Dunmore Road, in Salisbury. Goodbye, Off Message Blog. Rutland and Burlington are the only two Vermont cities in which an elected mayor functions as the day-to-day chief executive officer. The expectation of partisan loyalty also turned him off so much so that he studiously avoids stating the names of America's two major political parties. Christopher Louras death, obituary: 33 year old Christopher G. Louras was killed Tuesday in an early morning Rutland Vermont shooting with officers. Agenda 21, as defined by the United Nations, is a strategy for sustainable development. Nicholas Louras body was found by a passerby early on the afternoon of Oct. 8 on the edge of Route 53, also known as Lake Dunmore Road, in the Addison County town of Salisbury, about a 40-minute drive to Rutland. In 2010, Vermont State Police charged a Rutland police sergeant for viewing pornography on his work computer and removing a pornographic video from the police evidence locker. According to Major Tradeau, Chris Louras, armed with an AR-15-style rifle exchanged some fire towards the officers. Incumbents are hard to beat in Vermont. Attorney General T.J. Donovan, who added that he does not consider the way Louras wielded an "AR-15-style" gun, Trudeau said. Like his predecessors dating back to the 1970s, Louras has focused on Rutland's economy, which started declining when local industries mills, quarries and a railroad shut down. I'd be honored to hav All Rights Reserved.Funeral Home Website by Batesville | Funeral Planning and Grief Resources. Either safety track, where all the grumpy guys go; instructor pilot track, where all the prima donnas go; or maintenance, where the people who want to just work and get [stuff] done go. My concern is: What's the plan?" Police are investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting in Rutland, Vermont. He said hes grateful to have the job. Be Truthful. Peter Miller, Iconic Vermont Photographer, Dies at 89, 3. Investigators have not yet identified a motive for the killing. This is a whole different thing down here. Jack Thurston. Those in favor and those opposed quickly mobilized, and Rutland made national and international headlines as a microcosm of the larger refugee debate raging worldwide. When no jobs appealed to him after college, Louras enlisted as a warrant officer in the U.S. Army and learned to fly twin-rotor Chinook helicopters. Their names are expected to be released Wednesday, Oct. 9. I'm just doing my thing, Louras said. Rutland has an unemployment rate of 3.3 percent, right around the statewide average of 3.2 and well below the national rate of 5 percent. They engaged in secrecy for one simple reason they feared that involving the public sooner would derail the effort. Make a one-time, tax-deductible donation to our spring campaign by May 12. Nicolaos' son Gus Louras' dad managed to buy the grocery wholesale business where he was employed. Investigators: Man killed cousin before deadly shootout with police, Bike race participant killed in Burke Saturday, Kuster tours health facilities in Upper Valley, Businesses say I Do to busy wedding season, Former Vt. mayor's son killed in police shootout; may be linked to homicide, Police ID officers in police-involved shooting in Rutland, Police connecting dots between Salisbury homicide, Rutland shootout, No update from police Friday on deaths of Louras cousins, Louras cousins both died of gunshot wounds, Louras family speaks out after cousins killed by gunfire, Vt. attorney general: 4 officers justified in fatal Rutland shooting, Police video reveals timeline of deadly officer-involved shooting. Louras and allies insist that the supporters outnumber the opponents. Life can be cruel and there are many twists and turns we may never understand. However, Donovan wouldnt discuss that while the murder investigation is still underway in Addison County. "You should be doing just the opposite. Maj. Dan Trudeau, head of the state police criminal division, said at a press conference late Tuesday afternoon that authorities are investigating a link between the shooting in downtown Rutland and a possible homicide in Salisbury. One individual asked how Rutland would handle the imposition of Sharia law. home/garden Copyright 2015 - 23 CLIFFORD FUNERAL HOMES & CREMATION SERVICE. Police later located the white Ford Focus around 7 a.m. near the Walmart in the downtown shopping plaza. Life is fragile, and we need to hold our loved ones tight, Allaire said at Tuesdays news conference. I got smoked, Louras admitted the day after the election. UPDATE 10/10/2019: The Vermont State Police today identified Nicholas Louras, 34, of Rutland, as the homicide victim found on Tuesday in Salisbury. But longtime alderman Dave Allaire, who had challenged Louras twice before and lost, harnessed anger over resettlement. Footage from a police cruisers dashboard camera, obtained by NECN Tuesday, shows a chase through a popular shopping areas parking lot in downtown Rutland on Oct. 8. In 1995, he left the military and moved back home to Rutland to work for the family business. The man killed in the officer involved shooting has been identified as Christopher Louras, 33, of Rutland. Get an email notification whenever someone signs the guestbook. Al Gobeille, Top Exec at UVM Health Network, to Resign, 5. With Bernie Looking On, Ben & Jerry's Scoopers Announce Progress in Union Talks. ", "I wasn't built for it," Louras said of Statehouse politics. A French Private Equity Firm Owns Six Vermont Childcare Centers, a Possible Harbinger of Things to Come, Vermont Senate Backs Expansion of 'Death With Dignity' Law, Burlington Ballot Proposes Big Changes in City Election Rules, Burlington Considers Kicking Fossil Fuels to the Curb, A resident reading a flier about resettlement, by Mark Davis, Chelsea Edgar and Ken Picard. Drugs are believed to be a factor in the Louras cousins' deaths, but the AG wouldn't discuss t. There will be no criminal charges filed against four Vermont police officers who shot and killed the son of Rutlands former mayor back in October, after he led them on a chase and opened fire on the officers first.GET THE LATEST: Download the MyNBC5 appFootage from a police cruisers dashboard camera, obtained Tuesday, shows a chase through a popular shopping areas parking lot in downtown Rutland on Oct. 8.After getting stuck on railroad tracks, the driver gets out and can be seen shooting at officers, who return fire.NBC5 chose not to broadcast or publish the moment 33-year-old Christopher Louras is struck by police bullets.Louras was the son of Rutlands former longtime mayor, also named Chris Louras. Vermont State Police say Louras drove by the police station around 5:30 a.m. and fired . wouldnt discuss that while the murder investigation is still underway in Critics worried about how the city would pay for a large influx of new residents. He is the son of former Rutland Mayor Christopher Louras who served five two-year terms as the citys top elected official.