UTICA, N.Y. — A 17-year-old male has been arrested and charged in connection with a March shooting in Utica following a ShotSpotter alert and a weeks-long investigation by local police and probation officers.
Officers from the Utica Police Department responded to the 1500 block of Elm Street on March 19 after a ShotSpotter alert indicated gunfire in the area. On arrival, police found a single .40 caliber shell casing in front of a residence and learned from witnesses that a dispute had occurred outside before an individual fired one round and fled into the home.
New York State Parole officers also responded due to an active supervision status tied to one of the residents. During a subsequent search of the home, authorities recovered a loaded .380 caliber handgun in a shared area of the residence. No charges have been filed regarding that weapon at this time.
The case was handed over to an investigator from the GIVE Unit (Gun Involved Violence Elimination). The officer developed a suspect based on gathered evidence and interviews, ultimately identifying a juvenile male believed responsible for the shot fired.
On April 14, with assistance from Oneida County Probation, the 17-year-old suspect was taken into custody. He has been charged with criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree and criminal possession of a firearm.
Ongoing investigation into residence weapons
Police have not yet determined whether the recovered .380 handgun is tied to the initial gunfire. Investigators continue to examine whether additional parties may have been involved in weapons possession or the dispute that led to the shooting.
Key Points
- A ShotSpotter alert led Utica Police to a single fired round on March 19.
- A loaded handgun was found during a parole-related search of the home.
- A 17-year-old male was arrested and charged on April 14 in connection with the shooting.
Authorities credit coordinated work between local police, parole, and probation agencies in tracking and apprehending the teen suspect.