Full Notification

BURLINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
December 30th, 2015
ARREST EFFECTED FOR THE MURDER OF OBAFEMI ADEDAPO
Yesterday night, Chavis Murphy, 24, was arrested in West Springfield, Massachusetts, for the murder of Obafemi Adedapo on the early morning of December 27th, 2015. He was apprehended without incident outside a Five Guys restaurant adjacent to a hotel where he had been checked in since the afternoon of the shooting. Murphy, a Vermont native, is a registered sex offender. He has two convictions for felonious lewd and lascivious conduct, one for felony sexual assault, and one for simple assault.

In addition to witness testimony, video evidence, and tips from the public, Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology provided the Burlington Police Department with evidence that proved indispensible to the investigation. In the immediate aftermath of the incident, a cruiser from the Chittenden County Sheriff’s Department responded with lights and sirens to offer assistance. A few blocks out from Church and King Streets, approximately three minutes after the shooting, the cruiser’s ALPR system logged a license plate reading and an image of a black 2016 BMW X3 headed east, out of the city. This vehicle had been leased to the suspect by Enterprise Rent-a-Car. The ALPR read placed his vehicle in the vicinity of the shooting and fleeing its scene in the immediate aftermath. The Burlington Police Department is indebted to Sheriff Kevin McLaughlin for his deployment of this valuable investigative technology, and to the Vermont Intelligence Center for its repository of license plate reads.

It should also be noted that uniformed patrol officers made this case possible. While two performed CPR on the victim, others pursued and detained three uncooperative material witnesses who were instrumental to the understanding of the case. All of this occurred while additional officers used judgment and restraint in managing a crowd shouting epithets at the officers struggling to save the victim’s life. Burlington is fortunate to have such dedicated men and women in its service.

The department is grateful to the New York City Police Department, especially to its commissioner of operations, Dermot Shea, for providing fast and accurate information regarding the criminal gangs affiliates involved in this shooting. The information provided will be valuable in heading off any possible retaliation incidents, and has contributed to a greater understanding of the more limited but nonetheless present scope of gang activity in Vermont. In addition, the department would like to thank the West Springfield Police Department for its swift assistance in apprehending the suspect without incident, as well as the State’s Attorney, T.J. Donovan for his assistance in the investigation.

The investigation continues, and these statements are subject to revision and change. Burlington Detectives are in Massachusetts applying for search warrants and collecting evidence. There will be a future announcement regarding the extradition of Chavis Murphy to Vermont. The BPD has been in contact with the victim’s sister, Bukola Adedapo, and extends its condolences to her and her family. Every person, regardless of how extensive or violent his criminal record, has a family and loved ones. Hopefully this arrest and the subsequent proceedings will offer them a modicum of solace.