UPDATE: Short is in police custody as of approximately 9:00 PM, Tuesday the 15th of August. Short returned to Walmart with the machetes and was taken into custody shortly after attempting to flee from responding officers. Short was remanded to the Tompkins County Jail in lieu of $25,000 cash/$25,000 bond.
Ithaca Police Officers responded to Walmart around 2:38 PM Monday, August the 14th, for a report of theft involving a person armed with two machetes.
The suspect, Terry Short of Ithaca, was confronted by Ithaca Police officers at the scene. Short menaced the responding officers with one of his machetes while fleeing into ‘The Jungle’ drug encampments behind Lowe’s Home Improvement.
Following a brief foot pursuit, a perimeter was established in ‘The Jungle’ around Short’s last known location. Police canine units from the Ithaca Police Department and Schuyler County Sheriff’s Office were utilized in the search. A drone operated by the Tompkins County Sherriff’s Department was deployed.
Ithaca Police were also assisted by New York State Police, New York State Environmental Conservation Police and the New York State Park Police during the nearly two hour long manhunt. A total of six law enforcement agencies participated in the search.
The search covered a vast area, from the drug encampments behind Lowes, the wooded area at end of Cherry street to the area of the Fish Ladder and railroad bridge.
The search for Short, which concluded just before 4:30 PM, was ultimately unsuccessful.
An Ithaca Police Department statement indicates Short should be considered armed and dangerous. The statement also requests anyone who encounters Short should not approach him, and to contact the Ithaca Police Department immediately.
Short is 5’7” tall, approximately 130 pounds, with Hazel eyes.
Short was involved in a separate incident earlier in the day during which he also brandished two machetes inside of Lowe’s Home Improvement’s Ithaca location.
Several criminal charges are pending against Short, who has an additional active bench warrant issued by the Tompkins County Court for Aggravated Criminal Contempt, a Class D Felony Offense.
In 2017, a revocation of Short’s felony probation resulted in an altercation with a court officer wherein he attempted to bite them through their boot.
Short was charged in January of 2023 with aggravated criminal contempt, assault, and resisting arrest following a violent domestic incident.
Audio of the inciting incident and search can be heard in its entirety below.
Ithaca Police urge anyone with information on Short’s whereabouts to contact the department via the following means.
Police Dispatch: 607-272-3245
Police Administration: 607-272-9973
Police Tipline: 607-330-0000
Anonymous Email Tip Address: www.cityofithaca.org/ipdtips