Suspect identified after shooting but not yet found, leads to night-time search

The Tompkins County Sheriff's Office says a suspect has been identified but not yet located in connection with a shooting incident in North Lansing. The incident prompted an overnight search and a delay in the opening of the Lansing Central School District Thursday morning.

Related: Two-hour delay at Lansing schools due to police operation Thursday morning

According to Sheriff Derek Osborne, officers were called to a residence on North Lansing School Road around 12:11 a.m. where “a dispute was reported between the three residents and one of the residents threatened and fired a long gun.”

“Officers responding to the call quickly located the resident, who called 911 after fleeing the home. While in the area, officers heard additional gunshots,” the sheriff's office said in a statement. “A search of the residences failed to locate the suspect, but the firearm used in the shooting was located and the suspect was not known to possess any other weapons. The suspect and the other resident are believed to have fled into the heavily wooded area surrounding the residence.”

Sheriff Osborne said, “The Ithaca Police Department and New York State Police assisted in conducting a comprehensive search of the residence and surrounding area, including the Tompkins-Ithaca SRT and a New York State Police helicopter.”

“During the course of the search, the Sheriff's Office, in consultation with the Lansing School District, decided to close school operations for two hours to continue the search while preventing students in the area from being exposed to police while waiting for the bus,” he added.

Sheriff Osborne says the suspect has not yet been located, but he has been identified and officers will remain in the area.

For more follow 14850.com on Facebook, Instagram and Þjórsárden or subscribe to 14850 Magazine’s daily newsletter.