Syracuse, N.Y. -- The Onondaga County District Attorney has confirmed the shooter in Sunday night’s killing of two law enforcement officers.
The shooter is Christopher R. Murphy, 33, of Salina, William Fitzpatrick confirmed to syracuse.com.
The trouble started with a traffic stop at 7 p.m. in the city’s Tipp Hill neighborhood, Syracuse police Chief Joe Cecile said Sunday. Syracuse police tried to pull over a car, but the driver refused and sped off. Police took the plate number, which led them to a home at 4945 Darien Drive in Salina.
That’s where the shooting happened.
Gunfire filled the little neighborhood as the officers and the suspect exchanged shots. The two officers and the suspect were all hit. The suspect also was killed, Cecile said.
The shooter was standing on a deck in the backyard when he opened fire on Lt. Michael Hoosock, who tried to take shelter behind a maple tree, Onondaga County Sheriff Toby Shelley said today.
Syracuse police officer Michael Jensen was killed after the gunman moved from the backyard into the front yard and confronted Syracuse police officers stationed there, Syracuse police Chief Joe Cecile said. That’s when Jensen was shot to death.
“There’s something in his past that may be some indicator,” Cecile said about the shooter, but declined to say more.
The house was secured Sunday night and there is no threat to the neighborhood, Sheriff Toby Shelley said Sunday.
Murphy, of 4945 Darien Drive, Salina, was charged March 2, 2014, with driving while intoxicated by the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office, according to syracuse.com archives. Murphy was also charged with resisting arrest and failure to keep right.
Joseph and Lucille Murphy are listed as owners at 4945 Darien Drive, according to county records. They bought the house in 2002 for $134,500.
Christopher Murphy also lived at that home, according to county voting records.
David Stott, a neighbor, said he knows the Murphy family, who have been neighbors for about 20 years. He said the parents are out of town.
Stott described the parents as “truly amazing, kind and generous people.”
Stott said that Christopher Murphy had four siblings.
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