Paul Lachapelle Jr., the suspect in the fatal shooting, has been returned to Vermont

Vermont State Police announced Thursday that Paul Lachapelle Jr., the suspect in the 2022 fatal shooting of 38-year-old Justin Gilliam in Springfield, has been returned to Vermont to face charges. Lachapelle, 28, of Littleton, New Hampshire, waived extradition following his arrest in New Hampshire in August. He is now in the custody of the Vermont Department of Corrections and is jailed without bail. His arraignment on charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder is pending in the Criminal Division of Vermont Superior Court in White River Junction. The hearing is expected to occur at 1 p.m. Friday. He was jailed pending an initial court appearance in New Hampshire. The police investigation determined the homicide was related to a dispute among several individuals involved in drug trafficking. Gilliam’s death was the result of a gunshot to the head.