Syracuse police have accused a fifth teenager in the December murder of a man on Merriman Avenue.
Police say James Smith was shot and killed December 12 during a break-in. Detectives previously arrested 19-year-old Quinton Gathings 17-year-old Tyrone Bird, and 16-year-old Francis Mercado January 2nd, and then took a 15-year-old male into custody January 3rd. Thursday, police arrested 19-year-old Cameron Webster. All five teens are charged with second-degree murder and first-degree burglary. Authorities say all five are charged in Smith's death because all were involved in the break-in, and all were present when Jones was shot.
Gathings, Bird, Mercado, and Webster are all being held without bail at the Onondaga County Justice Center. The 15-year-old suspect is in custody at the Hillbrook Juvenile Detention Center. No photos of the suspects have been released. Police say the investigation is still ongoing, and more arrests may be made.