Press Release – Two Shootings Within 12 Hours
On Wednesday 06/09/21 at 2:39pm HPD received numerous calls of shots fired in the area of North 5th Street between Columbia St. and Long Alley.Witnesses stated they heard numerous shots fired, with a suspect carrying a pistol fleeing the area on foot. The suspect was described as black male, thin, wearing dark colored jeans, red boxers, no shirt. He was observed running west from the scene toward Columbia St. HPD officers and detectives, backed up by Troopers and Sheriff’s Deputies soon arrived at the scene. Detectives discovered numerous shell casings. An unoccupied parked car was struck in the windshield, and another bullet broke a second floor window of a nearby house on North 5th St.and lodged in a bedroom wall.Also, at the time of the incident, a 57 year old Chatham man was a lone occupant operating a Ford pickup on North 5th when a bullet narrowly missed him and shattered the rear passenger side window of his vehicle. He was not injured. Several men hanging around in the vicinity of the D&D Deli on North 5th St. were interviewed, but either claimed they saw nothing, or refused to cooperate when questioned.
On Thursday 06/10/21 at 12:01am Columbia County 911 received a call that there is a man in front of Building 13 , Hudson Terrace Apartments, who was having “difficulty breathing”.HPD Sgt. Edelman soon reported that he was with a man lying on the ground next to a vehicle with a wound to his upper right leg. Information gathered at the scene indicated the victim had been shot. Greenport Rescue Squad transported the man to Columbia Memorial Hospital and he was then Medivac’d to Albany Medical Center where he was admitted with life threatening injuries.
Numerous people were gathered in the parking lot of HTA at the time of the incident, but no information has been provided as to who could have fired a weapon.No weapon was located at the scene, and the possibility that the wound was self- inflicted/accidental has not been ruled out. HPD again received a great deal of assistance from the NY State Troopers, Columbia County Sheriff, and Columbia County District Attorney.
“There is not enough evidence collected at this time to positively link the two events. The apparent back-and-forth nature of the shootings is a pattern we have seen in the past. Lacking any information shared by people actually present, it will take time and a great deal of effort put together a good case and remove dangerous people from our neighborhoods.” Chief
Anyone who has any information regarding with of these two events are encouraged to call Detectives at (518)828-3388All calls will be kept confidential.