PITCHER – A press conference held Friday afternoon at the Chenango County Correctional Facility shed further light on a shooting incident that took place Aug. 30 in the Town of Pitcher, one that led to the suspect being airlifted for medical attention due to a gunshot wound inflicted by a sheriff’s deputy.
No charges have yet been filed against the alleged shooter, Patrick W. Ford II, 42, of Norwich, although a joint investigation by the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police and the county’s District Attorney’s Office continues.
According to Chenango County Sheriff Ernest Cutting Jr., authorities first received notification of a motor vehicle accident near 760 state Highway 23 at approximately 6:35 p.m. Thursday. Two sheriff’s patrols were dispatched to the accident scene, said Cutting, and residents at a nearby home observed a Chevrolet pick-up truck in their yard.
“The truck had struck a mailbox and had become entangled in a guide wire of a utility pole in their front yard,” read Cutting from a prepared statement. “Residents observed a male subject, with a young male child in the pick-up. The subject exited his vehicle and appeared to stumble around their yard.”
Ford, added Cutting, then engaged in a physical confrontation with a male resident of the nearby home, pulled a Glock 40. caliber pistol, which he placed to the resident’s head, and a struggle ensued.
The boy in question, who was not injured, was identified as Ford’s nine-year-old son.
“The male resident escaped and ran away from the area of conflict [and] several residents in the home barricaded themselves in a back bedroom,” said Cutting. “The male subject walked around the house and smashed the window out of the bedroom where the other family members were hiding. During this time, several rounds were discharged by the subject.”
The home’s residents then fled the scene, attempting to reach a nearby relative’s home located nearby. As they were fleeing, said Cutting, Ford fired several more rounds in their direction. The residents then contacted the Chenango County Sheriff’s Dispatch Center, relaying information that shots had been fired, information that was forwarded on to the responding officers.
Said Cutting, “Officers arrived and took up positions on either side of the horseshoe driveway to the residence. They attempted to engage in a dialog with the male subject [and] the child was directed by deputies to come to them.”
According to Cutting, the child did so, following which Ford was ordered to turn around. It’s reported, however, that Ford then raised his weapon at the deputies – and child – leading to deputies firing several rounds in Ford’s direction. Ford allegedly returned fire, striking a marked sheriff’s vehicle. A New York State Police vehicle arriving on the scene was also struck by gunfire.
“A third sheriff’s unit arrived on the scene,” said Cutting. “A deputy obtained his patrol rifle and as the subject advanced towards them, with his handgun pointed at them, discharged one round, striking the subject in the upper torso.”
Ford’s weapon was secured, determining he had reloaded his weapon at least two times, he added. Officers immediately began first aid; a nearby EMS crew, on standby, was moved to the scene; and Ford was stabilized before being airlifted via helicopter to the Upstate Medical Center, Syracuse.
Ford underwent surgery following his arrival at Upstate Medical and has been downgraded from critical to serious condition.