SALINA, N.Y. — The individual responsible for the incident has been identified as 33-year-old Christopher R. Murphy, according to Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick. The DA informed CNY Central that Murphy’s last reported interaction with law enforcement was a DWI in 2014.
A tragic event unfolded in Salina on Sunday night resulting in the deaths of a Syracuse Police Department officer and an Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office deputy. At around 7 p.m., two Syracuse police officers conducted a traffic stop on a suspicious vehicle that refused to comply. The officers lost sight of the vehicle but were able to trace it to an address in Salina using the license plate information.
Later in the evening, around 8 p.m., Syracuse police officers, accompanied by the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office, arrived at Darien Drive in Salina to investigate the vehicle. During the investigation, an armed individual emerged from the house, leading to an exchange of gunfire. As a result, a police officer, a deputy, and the armed suspect sustained injuries and were later pronounced dead at Upstate University Hospital.
Syracuse Police Chief Joseph Cecile reported that the deceased officer had been serving for approximately three years, while Sheriff Toby Shelley described the slain deputy as an experienced member of the force. The tragic event has deeply impacted the community, with Mayor Ben Walsh expressing condolences and emphasizing solidarity during this dark time.
As the situation continues to unfold, more updates are expected to follow.