In the early hours of a Vermont morning, a dispute turned deadly, leaving one man dead and another wounded. George Sun, a 41-year-old White / Caucasian male, was fatally shot outside a residence on Vermont Route 14 in Royalton on March 17, 2020. Another man, 26-year-old Dakota Fielder, also sustained gunshot wounds during the altercation.
According to the Vermont State Police, Sun and Fielder, who were friends, had gone to the residence, which led to a confrontation with the people inside. During this dispute, a resident of the home, 29-year-old Francis Phelps, allegedly opened fire. The gunfire resulted in the death of George Sun and caused injuries to Dakota Fielder, who was subsequently transported to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center for medical attention.
The investigation into the shooting led to the arrest of Francis Phelps. He was charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault with a weapon, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Following his arrest, Phelps claimed that he had acted in self-defense, stating that he fired his weapon after being attacked by Sun and Fielder. Despite this claim, he was held without bail. In April 2022, it was reported that Phelps was seeking a plea deal in connection with the fatal shooting.
