Father of Syracuse-area man who killed 2 police officers arrested, faces weapons charges

Salina, N.Y. — The father of the Salina man who earlier this year shot and killed two police officers was arrested Tuesday and faces illegal weapons charges, officials said.

Joseph E. Murphy, 61, was charged with criminal possession of a firearm and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, both felonies, records show.

The charges are related to firearms found in the home during a search after the shooting, according to Thomas Newton, a spokesperson for the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office. None were the weapon used by Murphy’s 33-year-old son, Christopher, in the shooting, he said.

Murphy is currently being held in the Onondaga County Justice Center jail, records show. He is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday.

Christopher Murphy used an illegally altered Springfield AR-15 in a double police shooting on April 14 that shook Central New Yorkers.

Murphy first shot Onondaga County Sheriff’s Lt. Michael Hoosock, 37, who was in the woods behind the home.

Hoosock was a decorated 16-year veteran of the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office and a volunteer firefighter who served as a battalion chief at the Moyers Corners Fire Department. He was known as a jokester and a dedicated family man to his wife and three children.

Murphy then went to the front of the house, where several officers had taken cover. There, he shot Syracuse police officer Michael Jensen, 29.

Jensen had been on the force for about two years. He was known for his outgoing personality and work ethic.

This story will be updated.

Staff writer Jon Moss covers breaking news, crime and public safety. He can be reached at jmoss@syracuse.com or @mossjon7.