BURLINGTON, Vt. -
Supporters crowded a courtroom for a 19 year old accused of attempted second degree murder.
Police say a fight broke out Saturday in Burlington's Old North End between Andrew Dashno and 39 year old David Hurne.
Today, the 19 year old pleaded not guilty.
19 year old Andrew Dashno Junior walked into a Burlington courtroom Tuesday to face four very serious charges, one that could put him in prison for life. Police say this past Saturday, Dashno attempted to kill 39 year old David Hurne. Dashno told police quote, "I was gonna shoot him and kill." He pleaded not guilty in court Tuesday.
"In these types of cases, we really need to engage in a lot of fact finding," Chittenden County State's Attorney TJ Donovan said.
Police say the two men live near each other and early Saturday morning, Dashno confronted Hurne about getting his brother in some kind of trouble. Hurne told police Dashno left and returned with a baseball bat, Hurne says he pulled out a gun to prevent himself from being assaulted. Hurne said he was pushed, and the gun fell to the ground. This is when Hurne says Dashno grabbed the gun and shot him in the ankle.
"We can't have this type of behavior going on in the streets of Burlington," Donovan said.
One witness says she saw it the other way around, and that it was Hurne hitting Dashno with the bat.
"He never attacked him, he never approached him, he never put his hands on him," Witness, Tanisha Tyler said.
In this confusing he said, she said... Dashno's family feels strongly he fired the gun in self defense.
"He was defending himself against this scum bag that carries a loaded handgun around," Dashno's mom Chantal Dashno said.
"Anytime there's a case of self defense, obviously we have to gather all of the facts and we'll see where the evidence takes us in this case," Donovan said.
Dashno Junior does have a criminal record so he's being held without bail. In addition to the second degree attempted murder charge, his other recent charges are aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, spitting on a police officer's neck and domestic assault for threatening to kill his girlfriend and her son.
No charges have been filed against 39 year old David Hurne.
