Two arrested in relation to death of Massachusetts teen who was shot over a dozen times

DANBY, Vermont — The Vermont State Police has arrested two suspects on charges related to the homicide of 17-year-old Isaiah Rodriguez of Massachusetts that took place in Danby nearly two years ago. Additional arrests are expected as the investigation continues.

Members of the state police arrested 32-year-old Ashley Wicks and 28-year-old Shawn Bulson, both of Bennington, on charges of being accessories after the fact to the fatal shooting. Wicks also was charged with conspiracy to commit murder.

Both suspects were arraigned in the Criminal Division of Vermont Superior Court in Bennington. A hearing also is expected on whether probable cause exists to charge Wicks with the conspiracy count.

Through a complex, lengthy investigation that began after Rodriguez’s body was found early February 3, 2022, in the snow off Danby Mountain Road, state police detectives determined the homicide arose from a dispute among a group of people regarding drug trafficking and stolen firearms.

According to the Bennington Banner, Isaiah – who had run afoul of the higher-ups in the 03 Block Gang by allegedly stealing a gun from one of the members – was kidnapped in Massachusetts and was driven up to Vermont, where he was placed inside a vehicle, allegedly driven by Wicks, with other members of the gang and Bulson inside. Rodriguez was asked to get out of the vehicle late at night where he was fired at 16 times.

Officials say that all of the suspected shooters are currently incarcerated on other charges.

The Banner interviewed Rodriguez’s aunt who stated that “he was a good kid that just followed the wrong way, the wrong people. He was a teenager, thinking that he knew it all. He found himself in a situation that he couldn’t get out of. Look where it took him. We don’t want people up there thinking he was the worst kind of person. He was a son, a brother, a nephew, and we are devastated that he’s gone. He was just a good kid who went down the wrong road.”