VSP: Colchester man kidnapped family, found with guns and body armor

August 28, 2026  |  By Eric Blaidell  |  The Times Argus

BURLINGTON — A Colchester man is accused of kidnapping his family and was reportedly later found with three handguns while wearing body armor.

Nubian Mohammed, 33, pleaded not guilty Aug. 19 in Chittenden County criminal court in Burlington to felony counts of kidnapping and first-degree unlawful restraint.

If convicted, Mohammed faces a maximum sentence of life in prison on the kidnapping charge.

He was ordered held without bail, pending a weight-of-the-evidence hearing set for Aug. 26, and was housed at Northeast Correctional Complex in St. Johnsbury as of Monday.

Trooper Job Moise, of the Vermont State Police, said in his affidavit a woman called police Aug. 16 and reported she was outside a gun shop in Waterbury and was being held captive by Mohammed, her husband. Moise said the victim reported Mohammed was armed with a gun and also had kidnapped their three children.

The trooper said the victim disconnected with 911 when Mohammed exited the shop with their kids. Moise said police went to the scene but did not find the vehicle the victim said Mohammed was driving. He said investigators checked with the gun shop, and employees there reported Mohammed had bought a handgun and ammunition.

Moise said a records check showed Mohammed lives in Colchester. He said police there had received calls previously because Mohammed had barricaded himself in his home. Moise said Mohammed had been fined by the fire marshal because he was using a piece of wood to barricade the door, causing a fire hazard.

He said police spoke with Mohammed and told him they were performing a welfare check on the children. He said police were only able to see two of the children, and when asked to see the third, Mohammed was seen reaching into his pockets, so officers entered his home and took him into custody out of concern that he may have been reaching for a gun, putting himself and others at risk.

Moise said Mohammed was found wearing body armor and had three guns and 139 rounds of ammunition on him. He said one gun was found in a holster on Mohammed’s ankle and the other two were in his shirt pockets.

Moise said he then spoke to the victim, who reported Mohammed was mentally unwell and was hearing voices. The victim reported Mohammed told her she wasn’t going to leave his sight so she couldn’t call 911, which is why the call she made was cut short, according to court records.

Moise said the victim reported Mohammed went and bought another gun in Waterbury because he believes people are trying to kill him.

Moise said the victim gave investigators permission to search the home, and a weapon capable of shooting pepper balls was found.