Police Identify ‘Occupy’ Shooting Victim, Continue Investigation

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Burlington police have been investigating Thursday’s shooting in City Hall Park at the "Occupy Burlington" encampment.

Chief Michael Schirling and Mayor Bob Kiss are scheduled to hold a news conference at this hour to update the progress.

Police say they believe the shooting was a suicide. They’ve identified the 35-year-old man as Josh Pfenning. Pfenning was found in one of the tents that have been pitched at the park. He died at Fletcher Allen Health Care hospital a few hours later.

Protesters have been camped at City Hall Park for the past two weeks as part of the larger Occupy Wall Street movement.

There was tension in Burlington last night because police closed the encampment while they investigated the shooting.

Anger was defused when a local church opened its doors for the protesters to sleep overnight.

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