Syracuse Police and the Onondaga County Sheriff's Office are still investigating what led to Sunday evening’s shootout in Salina that left two officers and the gunman dead. Deputy Mike Hoosock and Officer Mike Jensen were killed. Police Chief Joe Cecile says it was going to begin as a typical traffic stop on Tipperary Hill until the suspect fled.
“After it sped away, it was determined that it was somehow associated with a handgun or a gun of some type," Cecile said. "So their alert was heightened at that point.”
Instead of giving chase, Cecile says SPD and Sheriff’s deputies traced the vehicle to Darien Drive in Salina, where they arrived a short time later. Sheriff Toby Shelley says 33-year-old Christopher Murphy was armed with a Springfield AR-15 rifle and ambushed them.
“He was on the deck the entire time he was shooting, shooting at Lieutenant Hoosock," Shelley said. "He left the deck, ran to the front of the house where the Syracuse police officers were, and then opened fire on them.”
Officers, including Jensen, returned fire, killing the suspect. Shelley says they can’t yet reveal something about the suspect’s past that may have been an indicator for his motive, only that it’s not mental health related. Murphy’s only trouble with the law was a DWI 10 years ago.
Police Benevolent Association President Joe Moran says meanwhile, officers and deputies continue their work despite the very challenging circumstances.
“They don't have time to grieve. They're out responding to calls right now, providing the city a great service. That's what they're doing," Moran said. "That's how strong our members are. They're back at work the next day. We have detectives processing this investigation, having to go back to the scene to revisit this because of this evil demon.”
At a press conference Monday, Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh and Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon extended their condolences to the families of the slain officers, and praised the leadership of Cecile and Shelley.
The line-of-duty officer deaths by gunfire are the first since Wallie Howard, Jr. died after being shot during an undercover drug sting in 1990.
FALLEN OFFICERS REMEMBERED
The leaders of the Syracuse Police Department and Onondaga County Sheriff’s Department are remembering the dedication of the officers who were shot and killed Sunday evening in Salina. Sheriff Toby Shelley says Mike Hoosock was promoted to Lieutenant last June.
“He had a wife, three young children, ages 3, 5 and 7. He joined the Sheriff's Office in 2007. He was a watch commander. He was our bomb squad commander," Shelley said, occasionally pausing to gather himself. "He received multiple commendations and medals, one of which was a metal valor in 2020 at the transportation center where he helped apprehend a person who had shot two other people," Shelley said.
Police Chief Joe Cecile says officer Mike Jensen was relatively new to the force. He says he serviced with pride, and took the job seriously.
“It was very difficult to sit there with a family of a son who has 2 1/2 years on the job, and they talked about how proud he was of that uniform and that badge," Cecile said. "I saw it when I went to roll calls. That officer had a smile on his face all the time, happy to be in that uniform and proud to be in that uniform, just going out there to do the job. He would have had a lengthy, productive career if this maniac hadn't decided to gun him down,” Cecile said.
