Burlington, VT– A 19-year-old man appeared in court Tuesday charged in connect with an April 29 shooting at a Main Street apartment building.

Tyrin Smith, 19, faces charges of first-degree attempted murder of Aquill Nickson, who was later arrested for felony drug possession. Police said a “significant quantity” of drugs were recovered from Smith. A 17-year-old female suspect was also taken into custody.

Police said Smith wore a mask, ski goggle, and gloves and, along with another person, went to an apartment at 165 Main Street, looking for someone with whom they had exchanged “threatening electronic messages.”

Police say the suspects climbed two fire escapes and traveled across a roof, eventually breaking through a wall separating a hallway and the apartment. Police say Smith encountered Nickson — who was not the person they were looking for — and shot him in the chest.

Police say that Nickson discarded a “large quantity of crack cocaine” as he fled the apartment to the corner of Church and Main streets, where he was found by officers and firefighters.

Police believe Smith left the state after the shooting, but eventually returned. He was arrested as he left an undisclosed address on North Street. Police found more drugs at the North Street address.

Smith appeared in court Tuesday morning for his arraignment. He pleaded not guilty and is being held without bail. Police say the juvenile female is being investigated as an accessory after the fact.

The United States Marshals Service, the Milton Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives aided BPD in this case. This was the Queen City’s second gunfire incident in 2023.