Nicholas R. Louras, 34, of Rutland, was found dead from gunshot wounds along Vermont Route 53 (Lake Dunmore Road) in Salisbury on October 8, 2019. An autopsy ruled his death a homicide.

The discovery came the same day Courthouse-area violence in Rutland unfurled when Christopher G. Louras, 33, opened fire on the Rutland City Police Department and was later shot by officers after an exchange of gunfire in a downtown parking lot. Vermont State Police investigated multiple scenes and, after laboratory analysis and additional work, concluded Christopher was responsible for his cousin Nicholas’s killing. Christopher died at a hospital from wounds sustained in the officer-involved shooting; the Addison County State’s Attorney announced no charges would be filed in Nicholas’s death.

Investigators were able to identify the shooter, but no clear motive for the attack on Nicholas or the earlier shooting at the police department has been reported. If anyone knew Nicholas, his movements that day, or observed activity on Lake Dunmore Road or in Rutland on October 8, 2019, please come forward with information.