Rashad Nashid, Gunfire During Street Encounter, VT 2018

A man is behind bars more than five years after a violent street encounter in downtown Burlington left an innocent woman shot and bleeding on the sidewalk. Rashad Nashid, 38, of Burlington, VT, made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court on charges tied to a February 2018 shooting, accused of firing a gun during a confrontation — a bullet meant for an old rival instead striking a bystander.

According to federal court documents, the incident unfolded in the early morning hours of February 26, 2018, outside Nectars and Esox on Main Street. Nashid, a convicted felon, was approached by a man he recognized from a prior altercation. Witnesses say words escalated fast. Prosecutors allege Nashid pulled a firearm and opened fire, aiming to make the man back down — but the shot found the wrong target.

The bullet struck a woman standing nearby on the sidewalk, striking her without warning. First responders rushed her to UVM Medical Center, where she remains in critical condition. Her name has not been released. Nashid fled briefly but was apprehended by law enforcement within hours. Officers recovered the firearm he allegedly used, and ballistics are now being analyzed as part of the ongoing investigation.

Nashid has multiple prior felony convictions in New Jersey, which bars him from legally possessing a firearm under federal law. He was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm — a charge that carries a maximum penalty of ten years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000. U.S. Magistrate Judge John M. Conroy ordered Nashid held without bond, citing flight risk and public safety concerns.

The case, long cold, was revived through persistent work by the Burlington Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wendy G. Fuller is prosecuting. Nashid is represented by the Federal Public Defender’s Office. His next court date has not yet been scheduled.

U.S. Attorney Christina E. Nolan emphasized that the charge is an accusation, and Rashad Nashid is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The investigation continues as federal authorities piece together the full sequence of events from that night. If convicted, the actual sentence will be determined under federal sentencing guidelines.