In the quiet town of Springfield, Vermont, the life of Wesley John Wing, a 37-year-old White male, was tragically cut short on April 18, 2015. A hardworking construction man, he was known as a loving husband, father of four, son, and brother. He had a passion for fishing, hunting, and fixing vehicles and was a graduate of Springfield High School.
The events that led to his untimely death began with a confrontation in his neighborhood near Springfield High School.
Wing had reportedly confronted his neighbor Gregory Smith's girlfriend about her alleged drug use in the area. This dispute escalated when Smith became involved, culminating in a violent encounter at the intersection of Cheryl Lane and South Street. During the altercation, Smith, who was seated in his car, fired five shots at Wing.
Following the shooting, Wing stumbled into Jake's South Street Market. He was initially transported to Springfield Hospital and then airlifted to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in New Hampshire, where he succumbed to his injuries in the early hours of April 19, 2015.
The shooter, Gregory Allen Smith, who was 30 years old at the time, fled the scene. He managed to evade capture for five days, even fleeing to a remote campsite in South Londonderry, Vermont. Authorities issued an arrest warrant for him on a charge of second-degree murder. The investigation led police to Keene, New Hampshire, where they seized the vehicle Smith had allegedly used during the shooting. Smith was eventually apprehended.
During his trial, Smith claimed he acted in self-defense, stating that Wing had attacked and punched him. However, the prosecution argued that Smith had shot Wing in an "execution" style and had gone to great lengths to cover up his crime, including disposing of the firearm. In February 2018, a jury found Gregory Smith guilty of the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter. The verdict was a disappointment to Wing's family, who had been hoping for a murder conviction. In May 2019, Smith was sentenced to 13 to 15 years in prison. The tragedy for the Wing family was compounded just three months after Wesley's death when one of his daughters died by suicide.
