In the early hours of a Saturday morning, the vibrant atmosphere of downtown Burlington was shattered by violence that claimed the life of Teville Williams, a 30-year-old Black man from Stowe, Vermont. On August 24, 2024, just after midnight, a dispute that began inside the Red Square bar on Church Street escalated with fatal consequences on the street outside.
Williams was a Jamaican national, remembered by friends and family for his kindness and warmth.
The tragic series of events began with a heated argument inside the bar between Williams and a 22-year-old woman named Aaliyah Johnson. According to police reports, the altercation turned physical, leading security staff to intervene and escort both individuals out of the establishment through separate exits. However, the separation was momentary. Johnson allegedly waited for Williams to emerge from the other exit, and upon confronting him on Church Street, she reportedly fired multiple shots at close range.
A community service officer on foot patrol in nearby City Hall Park heard the gunshots and immediately alerted the Burlington Police Department. Officers arrived to a chaotic scene, where they found Williams suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. An off-duty officer and bystanders attempted to render aid and perform CPR before he was rushed to the University of Vermont Medical Center. Despite their efforts, Williams was pronounced dead at the hospital. The large crowd that had gathered hampered initial efforts by emergency responders to secure the crime scene and provide medical care.
In the immediate aftermath, police apprehended Aaliyah Johnson at the scene. A. 45 caliber handgun, believed to be the weapon used in the shooting, was also recovered. Johnson, a resident of South Burlington, was subsequently arrested and charged with first-degree murder. Court proceedings revealed that the initial argument inside the bar was allegedly over a drink. Security footage from both inside and outside the bar captured the altercation and the subsequent shooting. Johnson pleaded not guilty to the murder charge and has been held without bail pending trial.
