NORWICH – A man employed with the New York State Department of Corrections has been charged with attempted murder and another man lies in critical condition following a shooting in Norwich early Sunday morning.
According to the Norwich Police Department, a call was received to the 911 center at approximately 3:28 a.m. Sunday morning reporting an individual in the area of a North Broad Street business displaying a weapon.
A NPD officer was in the vicinity and was flagged down by an individual prior to the 911 call being dispatched over the radio.
“The officer then heard what he believed to be gunshots coming from the area of Lackawanna Avenue,” read a release from the NPD.
According to authorities the officer then located a victim in a parking lot off of Lackawanna Avenue. The victim had what police said appeared to be a gunshot wound to the abdomen.
Wayne J. Spratley, 33, Greene, was taken into custody, and Norwich Police said a Glock handgun was recovered at the scene.
Detective-Sergeant Reuben Roach, lead investigator on the case, said Monday morning that the crime scene was processed and evidence was collected, then opened back up following that portion of the investigation.
The Norwich Fire Department responded to the scene and the victim was first transported to UHS Chenango Memorial Hospital in Norwich. The victim was then transferred to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse.
Spratley has been charged with attempted murder in the second degree, a class B felony, punishable by up to 25 years in the New York State Department of Corrections if convicted.
Chenango County District Attorney Joseph McBride said that it is alleged that Spratley, on July 19, 2015, in the parking lot of Lackawanna Avenue in downtown Norwich, did fire a loaded pistol hitting a victim. It is alleged that Spratley intentionally pointed and discharged a firearm into the victim. The charge further alleges that Spratley intended to cause the death of another person and he attempted to cause the death of such person.
The victim, who will remain unnamed, is in an intensive care unit. McBride said that the victim’s condition is subject to change at all times.
Spratley was arraigned in front of Chenango County Court Judge Frank B. Revoir Jr. and was remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility in lieu of $50,000 cash bail or $100,000 bond.
Additional charges that Spratley is facing include assault in the first degree, a class B felony and criminal use of a firearm in the first degree, a class B felony.
Spratley’s felony hearing in Norwich City Court is set for this Thursday at 9 a.m.
“The Norwich Police Department did an outstanding job in investigating this incident,” said McBride.
McBride added that the he and the NPD worked all day Sunday on this matter.
“Authorities have followed every available lead and interviewed every available witness,” said McBride.
Anyone with further information, or any other witnesses from this morning’s events, are asked to please contact Detective Sergeant Reuben Roach at 334-1212. Persons with information can also call the Norwich Police Department TIPS line at 336-8477 or submit a tip at www.npdtips.com.
“I assure the public based on the information that I have that this is an isolated incident,” said McBride.
It was said that the incident began out of a dispute that took place outside of a Broad Street establishment in Norwich, and ended at Lackawanna Avenue in a parking lot.
“District Attorney Joseph McBride was instrumental in this investigation,” said the Norwich Police.
McBride explained there may be additional charges concerning the early morning incident. The NPD also said additional charges are pending.
The District Attorney also said that as of late Sunday, the victim was still alive, and in intensive care. Norwich Police said the man remains in critical condition.
Michael Hayes, co-owner of Rita’s on Lackawanna Avenue in Norwich said he was surprised to hear of the incident. “We closed around 3 a.m., it was kind of a quiet night, we had a good band – String of Pearls – but the staff wanted to get home, so everyone was out around 3,” said Hayes. “I don’t really know what happened, but I arrived at the business around 11 a.m. Sunday and saw a man from another news agency. He said there was a circle around some evidence including blood on the parking lot. You had to look for it, it wasn’t too noticeable, but it was there.”
Hayes added that Spratley was in his establishment earlier that evening, but had been asked to leave by employees, and Spratley left. Hayes said the victim has been barred from his establishment for months. “He is a decent guy, I have no problem with him personally, but there have been many times he has wanted to defend someone else’s honor,” Hayes said.
Hayes added that while the shooting happened near his establishment, it was the ending point of the incident and it did not stem from any altercation from his bar.
Hayes additionally explained that he expected to hear something from police as the shooting took place in close proximity, yet he has heard nothing.
“This has been kind of bizarre,” said Hayes. “I got the call at about 10 a.m. about the shooting, and from there just went down to check things out.”
The mother of a young woman who was at the scene spoke out regarding her knowledge of the incident. Angela Benedict, the mother of a 17-year-old who ran to Howard Johnson’s to have someone call 911, said that she had warned her daughter a few days prior that she was not comfortable with her daughter being out so late.
“I told her anything can happen, even in Norwich,” said Benedict. “I didn't feel safe before this incident, but unfortunately I don't feel like many communities are safe anymore.”
Benedict said her daughter was walking home and ran into a friend, and the two were going to walk home together.
Benedict described the incident as her daughter explained it to her, then said, “My daughter ran away and got to the Bluebird when shots rang out. That is when she ran to Howard Johnson's for safety and cover.”
Tyler Cooper, the man at Howard Johnson’s who made the call to 911 said, “The girl told me a white guy with a blue collared shirt came up to her, flashed a badge, and said he was a cop. Following the incident, the police said he was a corrections officer not a police officer.”
According to reports, Spratley is employed with the New York State Department of Corrections.
“Such a traumatic experience for her and I feel bad for the victim's friends and family. I hope all the details and the facts get sorted out and there can be some sort of peace and closure,” said Benedict.
Spratley is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
“The victim is still alive, but critical as of now,” said Roach. The victim remains in Upstate University Hospital. If the victim’s condition changes, The Evening Sun Staff will be notified.