HOPKINTON, R.I. (WPRI) — A Hopkinton man is facing charges out of multiple states after he allegedly led police on a chase and got into a shootout with state troopers in Vermont.

Brenden Sackal, 30, is recovering at a New Hampshire hospital after Vermont State Police (VSP) said he was shot while exchanging gunfire with two troopers.

VSP said they got involved on Sunday when Hopkinton police alerted law enforcement agencies in New Hampshire and Vermont that Sackal was believed to be in the area.

“The arrest warrant that the police in Rhode Island had was related to possession of high-capacity firearm magazines. There’s much more that goes with the case, but that’s about all I can tell for that part now,” VSP Maj. Dan Trudeau said during a press conference Monday afternoon.

Sackal has an extensive criminal history dating back a decade, according to police. Since moving to Hopkinton in 2021, police said they’ve interacted with him at least 30 times.

Sackal tried to buy a gun last year, but his application was denied due to his interactions with police.

Hopkinton Police Chief Mark Carrier told 12 News that neighbors complained of what they initially thought were fireworks on June 29. Nearly two weeks later, they discovered that someone had shot at their home after an HVAC technician found a bullet in their bedroom air conditioner.

The investigation led police to Sackal’s Spring Street home, where they found evidence of spent firearm cartridges.

Inside the home, police said they found several weapons, including ghost guns, as well as thousands of rounds of ammunition, a bulletproof vest and a police radio.

“That was alarming to us,” Carrier said.

“This isn’t somebody that’s just going to the firing range or somebody that likes to shoot for a hobby,” the chief added. “As soon as we saw how he was stockpiling this ammunition and keeping it in containers, it was more of a poster child of an active shooter.”

Sackal was in New Hampshire at the time of the search, according to Carrier, so that’s when his department contacted police in New Hampshire and Vermont.

VSP said U.S. Border Patrol officers spotted Sackal in his truck in the area of Pittsburg, New Hampshire, and tried to pull him over. He allegedly stopped for a moment, then sped off again, leading the officers on a chase into Vermont.

Police said they deployed spike strips, which deflated Sackal’s tires, but he continued to flee.

“The vehicle was basically on all four tire rims at the time,” Trudeau said.

Eventually, troopers caught up with Sackal in Burke and attempted again to stop him.

Video reviewed by investigators showed Sackal hitting two VSP cruisers with his truck before coming to a stop. Police said he then got out and started shooting at the troopers, who returned fire.

“There was an exchange of gunfire, which he started first and troopers followed,” Trudeau explained.

Sackal was taken to an area hospital with multiple gunshot wounds, according to Trudeau.

The chief said no one else was hurt in the shootout. Per protocol, the troopers involved have been placed on paid leave.

VSP say the investigation is ongoing and charges against Sackal are pending.

Once he’s extradited to Rhode Island, Carrier said Sackal will face additional charges out of Hopkinton.

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