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A 19-year-old man, Antoni Martinez, is in custody after allegedly stealing a car at gunpoint and leading police on a chase through Syracuse. The incident occurred on Tuesday night when Martinez and an accomplice reportedly approached a man on Whitwell Drive. Threatening the driver with a handgun, they demanded he exit his vehicle, a 2023 Dodge Charger, or face being shot.
Martinez then took control of the vehicle, triggering a pursuit that spanned several city streets. The chase ended when Martinez abandoned the vehicle on Court Street and attempted to flee on foot. He was subsequently apprehended by officers on Gaynor Avenue.
According to Syracuse Police Department spokesperson Kieran Coffey, Martinez has been charged with first-degree robbery and first-degree criminal use of a firearm. He is currently being held at the Onondaga County Justice Center, with bail set at $300,000 cash and a $500,000 bond.