On June 21st, 2016 at approximately 2:13AM Burlington Police were called to an apartment on South Prospect St. for a report of a domestic dispute where a male suspect was armed with a handgun and intended to shoot his girlfriend and then himself.
Responding officers quickly established a perimeter and used contemporary police tactics in order to slow the incident, gain control of the scene, making the area as safe as possible for the suspect, his girlfriend and for the officers. Officers were able to contain the suspect and his girlfriend to their apartment at which time a Detective trained in crisis negotiation made contact with the couple and mediated a safe surrender. The suspect was formally identified as Ozazi A. Costa-Mangina, age 21 of Burlington, Vermont.
Detectives were granted a Search Warrant for the apartment and recovered a Ruger 9mm handgun, 11 ounces of marijuana, and 11 tablets identified as a hallucinogenic drug MDMA, more commonly known as “ecstasy”. Investigators also learned that Costa-Mangina had purchased a total of four guns in June of 2016, three of which were distributed to an associate of Costa-Mangina.
Costa-Mangina was transported to Vermont Superior Court and is awaiting arraignment on charges of aggravated domestic assault with a deadly weapon, possession of MDMA, and felony possession of marijuana.
