Hopkinton man allegedly fired 41 rounds in seconds at Vermont troopers in desperate flight

A Hopkinton man wanted by police in Rhode Island apparently used at least two guns to fire 41 shots at Vermont state troopers Sunday, according to an affidavit filed by the Vermont State Police.

A Kevlar helmet that Brenden Sackal was wearing might have also saved his life since police found "a ballistic helmet with an apparent projectile defect" near where Sackal was ultimately taken into custody.

Sackal, 30, of 524 Spring St. in Hopkinton, was hit by gunfire and hospitalized. None of the troopers were hit, and no one else was injured, but the affidavit indicates that a police cruiser was hit by bullets.

Sackal faces life in prison if convicted

The affidavit in support of criminal charges by Detective Sgt. James Vooris relies on interviews with law enforcement officers, body- and dash-camera footage and evidence collected at the scene. Sackal faces multiple charges, including three counts of attempted murder for shooting at the troopers, and could be sentenced to life in prison if convicted.

Law-enforcement officers began pursuing Sackal on Sunday in New Hampshire after the Hopkinton police contacted them. Sackal was wanted in Rhode Island on an extraditable warrant charging him with four counts of possession illegal high-capacity ammunition feeding devices. The Hopkinton police learned he might have traveled to Northern New England, heading for Canada.

Sackal led police on a chase from New Hampshire into Vermont, which even after law-enforcement officers flattened Sackal's tires, continued for more than 30 miles at low speeds with Sackal driving on the truck's bare rims. According to the affidavit, Sackal began firing at the troopers seconds after they collided with his truck and got it to stop on Route 114 near Pinkham Road in Burke.

Police: Sackal started shooting within seconds

"Approximately 6 seconds after Sackal's vehicle comes to a stop, rapid succession gunfire, consistent with automatic gunfire, is heard and a muzzle flash is observed near the driver side rear of Sackal's vehicle," Vooris wrote, describing what he saw in body camera footage."

"Sackal is then observed retreating away from his vehicle while appearing to fire his gun at Trooper (Richard) Berlandy. Trooper Berlandy appeared to be pinned in his vehicle, unable to open his door due to the collision, and returned fire with his pistol from inside his cruiser while yelling, 'shots fired,'" Vooris wrote.

"At about the same time, Sgt. (Joshua) Mikkola exits his cruiser and fires his pistol in the direction of Sackal, who was now standing on the front lawn of a single-family residence located at 2188 VT Route 114 in Burke, Vermont," Vooris wrote.

"Sackal is observed falling to the ground in a grassy area near a tree in the front yard of 2188 TV Route 114 in Burke, Vermont. As Sackal falls to the ground, gunshots are heard that are consistent with shots being fired by semi-automatic pistols and there appears to be a muzzle flash from Sackal's direction," he wrote.

"The shooting pauses for approximately 3 seconds before Sackal is observed raising a firearm and firing in the direction of Trooper Berlandy, Trooper (Jesse) Nash and Sgt. Mikkola. The gunshots are heard in rapid succession and consistent with automatic gunfire," Vooris wrote. "Immediately after the gunfire, Sackal appear to drop the firearm and surrender to law enforcement."

Sackal was taken into custody on the front lawn and given medical aid before he was taken to the hospital, according to Vooris.

"It is believed he sustained several gunshot wounds," Vooris wrote.

Three guns were found near Sackal

The Vermont State Police Crime Scene Search Team combed the area for evidence.

Investigators found "37 spent 5.56 cartridge casings in the immediate area were Sackal was observed on video," Vooris wrote. "Additionally, 4 spent 40 caliber cartridge casings were observed in the same area. Two semi-automatic handguns chambered in .40 caliber, as well as an unknown manufactured, privately made AR type pistol, chambered in 5.56 NATO, bearing no visible serial number, were located ... in the immediate area where Sackal was taken into custody. An empty 40 round magazine was seated in the AR style pistol."

Investigators also found six large-capacity ammunition feeding devices in Sackal's truck, according to Vooris.