Salina, New York – Christopher R. Murphy, a 33-year-old local from Salina, has been identified as the individual responsible for fatally shooting two Syracuse law enforcement officers last weekend. The tragic event unfolded in Salina, a suburb of Syracuse, around 9 p.m. Murphy was also killed during the shootout.
According to reports, Murphy engaged in a gunfight with an officer from the Syracuse Police Department and a deputy from the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office outside a residence in Salina. The confrontation followed Murphy’s refusal to pull over during a traffic stop in Syracuse’s Tipp Hill neighborhood at approximately 7 p.m. The officers suspected that the vehicle Murphy was driving was stolen.
Law enforcement officers trailed Murphy to a home in Liverpool, located in the community of Salina, after observing what appeared to be firearms in the vehicle. Syracuse Police Chief Joseph Cecile mentioned that they heard noises suggesting someone was handling a weapon inside the residence.
The exchange of gunfire resulted in the tragic deaths of both officers and Murphy. They were all pronounced dead at the hospital due to their injuries. Murphy had previous encounters with the law, including a 2014 arrest by the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office for driving while intoxicated, resisting arrest, and failure to keep right.
Authorities confirmed that there was no further threat to the community as they secured the house where the incident took place. The identities of the two officers who lost their lives have not been disclosed publicly. The Syracuse officer had approximately three years of service and was described as very active and proactive by Chief Cecile. The deputy from the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office was a well-liked and seasoned law enforcement officer within the community.
As the community mourns the loss of the officers, hundreds of law enforcement officials paid their respects by saluting as the bodies of the slain officer and deputy were transported from Upstate Medical University Hospital. The investigation into the tragic shooting continues as authorities work to piece together the events leading up to the deadly confrontation in Salina.