An Ithaca man was shot in the back multiple times in front of the drug apartments adjacent to The Rook restaurant at 106 North Plain Street around 3 AM Sunday morning.
The intersection of State & Plain Street is notorious for drug activity, with overdoses sometimes occurring within minutes of each other on opposite corners of the street. The building at 106 North Plain Street is a focal point of criminal activity.
The victim, whose name is being withheld by Ithaca Crime, is a repeat drug offender who was arrested late last year with a significant amount of controlled substances and an illegal handgun. He was charged with multiple counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in addition to Criminal Possession of Stolen Property. He has been shot previously and has also been arrested for possession of crack cocaine. The victim was transported to a regional trauma center.
Witnesses described the suspects of the shooting as 2 black males, tall with a thin build, wearing hooded sweatshirts. One the males was seen wearing an all-black sweatshirt and the other was seen wearing a black sweatshirt with red sleeves. The suspects fled on foot in separate directions, westbound on Seneca and northbound on Plain. Bullet casings were recovered from the scene. One 911 caller reported they were in possession of video of the shooting.
The Ithaca Police Department report that the investigation is still ongoing, and ask that anyone who was in the area during the incident, has knowledge of the incident, or anyone who resides in the area that may have surveillance footage, to contact the Ithaca Police Investigative Division.
Police Dispatch: 607-272-3245
Police Administration: 607-272-9973
Police Tipline: 607-330-0000
Anonymous Email Tip Address: www.cityofithaca.org/ipdtips
