Vernon Teen Given 7 Years For 2020 Shooting Involving Rival Factions

VERNON, CT — A teen implicated in a 2020 shooting in the Rockville section of Vernon was given a prison sentence Wednesday in the courthouse a short distance from the incident.

Tolland State's Attorney Matthew C. Gedansky announced at Rockville Superior Court that Trenton Merrill, 19, of Vernon, was sentenced to seven years in prison for the Aug. 27, 2020 "assault and attempted shooting" of a juvenile.

Merrill was originally charged with attempted murder and other felonies. He entered guilty pleas to the charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree assault, carrying a pistol without a permit and illegal possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle, Gedansky said.

Gedansky described the incident as "one of a series of escalating violent interactions between two groups of young people in Rockville at the time."

Following what he called "an extensive investigation conducted by the Vernon Police Department" spanning 2019 through 2021, police arrested 15 people in connection with multiple stabbings, assaults and shootings.

The defendants were presented in Rockville Superior Court, with additional juveniles charged in Rockville Juvenile Court.

The remaining defendants' criminal cases are pending, records show.

All of the cases are being prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant State's Attorney Jaclyn Preville.

According to a warrant issued for his arrest, Merrill was identified as the primary shooter in the 2020 incident at Prospect and Ward streets. The gun involved was a semi-automatic pistol with .40-cal ammunition, a warrant states.

The gun was recovered at the scene, police said.

During the investigation, Vernon police discovered drug activity at Merrill's 157 Union St. residence, case records show.

Merrill's mom, Carlyann Merrill, was charged with evidence tampering and interfering with police in the case, records show. She is accused of deleting home video footage after learning police were investigating her son in relation to the shooting, police said. Her next court date is scheduled for June 14.