Syracuse Police are trying to piece together what led to multiple shots being fired Sunday night at a large party that claimed the life of a 41-year-old man on the city’s near west side. An officer also fired her weapon during the melee. Mayor Stephanie Miner says police had an idea there could be a problem at an annual father’s day gathering near Skiddy Park.
"We got several calls and tips to the police saying there was going to be gunfire and talking about shooting up the event," Miner said. "Our police officers went to Skiddy Park and told the people they could not organize there and that they had to move elsewhere. They went to James Geddes Housing."
Around 11 p.m. officers were dispatched to the 300 block of Otisco Street for reports of a person down. Police Chief Frank Fowler says it was unrelated to the nearby party, and that officers were told he was intoxicated.
"When she [officer] got there, she noticed that a loud party was occurring, and as she conducted her investigation, several shots rang out," Fowler said. "During the course of this incident, the officer did discharge her weapon. During the course of the gunfire, two people were struck."
41-year-old Gary Porter suffered a gunshot wound and later died at Upstate University hospital. A 31-year-old woman was treated and released. Fowler can’t say which shots struck Porter.
"We recovered from the scene several types of shell casings, which would indicate that at least four handguns were fired."
Fowler also declined to say if the two people shot were armed. He’s surprised more people weren’t hurt.
"We're talking about a party that was attended by over 100 people," Fowler said. "We're talking about multiple shots fired in a residential neighborhood, near an apartment complex. For every round that's fired, that projectile has to come to a resting halt someplace. It's putting everyone in proximity to the weapons that's fired in harm's way."
Fowler says it’s not clear yet just how many shots were fired. He describes the scene as total chaos as people fled the area. As additional officers arrived, some in the crowd threw rocks and bottles. Fowler says he’ll be meeting with the father of the victim, and will release more information as the investigation continues. The county DA’s office and state attorney general are also investigating.
