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Syracuse police are investigating a fatal shooting that occurred on Tuesday (June 24) near the Upper Onondaga Park Pool, leaving a 15-year-old boy dead. The victim was shot in the abdomen and later died at Upstate University Hospital. The shooter remains at large, and the gun has not been recovered, according to Syracuse Police Chief Joseph Cecile. The incident is now being treated as a homicide.
Mayor Ben Walsh expressed his heartbreak over the tragedy, stating, "Losing a teenager with so much life ahead makes this tragedy even more devastating." He assured the public that the Syracuse Police Department is actively investigating the case and will increase police presence around city pools in the coming weeks.
The shooting occurred during a heat wave in Syracuse, with temperatures reaching a record 94 degrees. The city's ShotSpotter system detected gunfire around 2 p.m., prompting a swift response from law enforcement. The pool was evacuated and closed indefinitely following the incident.
In a separate incident on Monday night, three boys were wounded by gunfire in the area of Knaul Street and Hier Avenue. The victims, aged 8, 9, and 12, were treated at Upstate University Hospital and are in stable condition. No arrests have been made in either case, and police urge anyone with information to contact the Syracuse Police Department Criminal Investigations Division at 315-442-5222.