Loren Senna, III, a 41-year-old resident of Burlington, Vermont, has been sentenced to ten years in prison following his guilty plea to charges of possessing with intent to distribute cocaine base and being a felon in possession of ammunition. The sentence was handed down by Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss on February 18, 2025.
The charges stem from an incident on March 19, 2021, when Senna fired multiple rounds from a semi-automatic rifle-style handgun while pursuing another vehicle through the Old North End neighborhood of Burlington. Although the bullets struck several residences and pedestrians were present during the shooting, no injuries were reported. After the shooting, Senna attempted to evade law enforcement by fleeing through Burlington and eventually crashing into a police cruiser. He abandoned his vehicle and fled on foot but was later apprehended in South Burlington.
Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher remarked on the dangerous nature of Senna's actions: “The defendant’s shooting and subsequent flight from law enforcement the evening of March 19, 2021, were shocking and extraordinarily dangerous." Drescher praised the efforts of local and federal law enforcement agencies for their swift response that led to Senna's capture without any injuries.
Burlington Chief of Police Jon Murad highlighted the collaborative effort involved in handling this case: “From dispatch to patrol, to detectives, to our identification unit, dozens of BPD employees took part in this elaborate case.” He expressed gratitude for the successful prosecution which resulted in a sentence that would prevent further risk to public safety.
James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Boston Field Division, emphasized the threat posed by armed felons like Senna: “This case highlights the dangers posed by armed felons and drug traffickers that underscores the importance of aggressive enforcement measures.”
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicole P. Cate and Zachary B. Stendig prosecuted the case with Mark Kaplan representing Loren Senna.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence across communities by fostering trust between law enforcement agencies and community organizations.