Suspect arrested after early-morning fight behind courthouse
BURLINGTON — A 24-year-old Winooski man was ordered held without bail after pleading not guilty Tuesday to a charge of second-degree murder in connection with a fatal stabbing behind the courthouse on Main Street early Saturday morning.
Burlington police officers responded just after 4 a.m. to a disturbance in the parking lot behind the courthouse, where they found a man suffering from a stab wound. The victim, 24-year-old Deng Dau, was transported to a hospital and died there from his injuries.
Investigators cite surveillance video and physical evidence
According to court filings reviewed by police, surveillance video captured a confrontation among Dau and two other men in the parking lot. Officers say the footage shows the men arguing and pushing one another, after which one of the men stepped back, lunged and swung an arm toward the victim.
Police identified the suspect as 24-year-old Hassan Haji of Winooski. Court documents say Haji surrendered to Burlington police on Tuesday and was charged with second-degree murder the same day. The affidavit alleges Haji then ran from the parking lot and headed toward an alley near an apartment on College Street.
- Time of incident: Just after 4 a.m., Saturday
- Victim: Deng Dau, 24
- Accused: Hassan Haji, 24, of Winooski
- Charge: Second-degree murder
- Next court date: Aug. 27 — weight-of-evidence and bail review hearing
Evidence recovered at nearby residence
Investigators say a trail of blood led from the parking lot toward an apartment on College Street. According to the probable cause affidavit, officers found what appeared to be blood on an apartment door handle.
During a search of the residence, police say they recovered a pair of white sneakers stashed in a trash bag. The affidavit states the shoes were consistent with those Haji was seen wearing in the surveillance footage and that the shoes bore what appeared to be blood.
Court proceedings and orders
Haji appeared in Chittenden Superior Court on Tuesday, entered a not-guilty plea and was ordered held without bail. The judge also issued a restraining condition related to the ongoing investigation.
"No contact with anyone named in the probable cause affidavit," the judge ordered.
Haji is scheduled to return to court Aug. 27 for a weight-of-evidence and bail review hearing.
Impact on downtown Burlington and ongoing investigation
The incident was one of several violent disturbances reported downtown that morning, according to police. Authorities have not publicly identified a motive or provided details about how the encounter began beyond the description in the affidavit that the men had engaged in a physical dispute.
Prosecutors will present the evidence gathered so far at the forthcoming hearing, where a judge will weigh whether the case should proceed to trial and whether the custody status should change. Police have not released additional comments about the relationships among the people involved, other than court paperwork indicating the people were known to one another.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Incident location | Parking lot behind Burlington courthouse, Main Street |
| Time | Just after 4 a.m., Saturday |
| Victim | Deng Dau, 24 |
| Accused | Hassan Haji, 24, of Winooski |
| Next court date | Aug. 27 — weight-of-evidence and bail review |
As the case moves through the court system, questions remain about what sparked the confrontation and whether there were prior disputes among those involved. Local authorities continue to investigate and will provide updates as more information becomes available.
