On April 26, 2014, 44-year-old Kryn Miner was found in critical condition at his Essex, Vermont, home with multiple gunshot wounds and later died. Miner was a decorated Army veteran who served in the 82nd Airborne Division and had multiple deployments; family remembered him as charismatic but also noted he struggled with PTSD and a traumatic brain injury from his service.

Miner reportedly became verbally abusive, hit himself, threatened family members with a firearm, assaulted his wife, and threw a loaded handgun toward a teenage child who had come to her defense. When Miner reached for another weapon, the teenager fired multiple shots.

The Essex Police and Vermont State Police Crime Lab investigated, and the Chittenden County State’s Attorney’s Office later determined the shooting was justified; no charges were filed against the teen. Miner’s death was ruled a homicide, and the family described themselves as victims of an unimaginable set of circumstances while calling attention to veterans’ mental health needs.

If anyone has information about that night or knew the family, please share what you can with investigators.