By Tom Grace and Michelle Miller
Cooperstown News Bureau
COOPERSTOWN _ An apparent hate crime rocked Cooperstown on Good Friday as a white teenage boy, Anthony Pacherille, allegedly chased a black teenage boy, Wesley Lippitt, past the National Baseball Hall of Fame, across busy Main Street and down Fair Street, shooting at him with a .22 rifle.
Lippitt ran into the building that houses the Cooperstown Police Department at the corner of Fair and Main streets and tried to hide in the foyer.
Pacherille allegedly followed him into the building and opened fire, hitting Lippitt in the arm with one shot, sending another bullet ripping through the police station, before shooting himself in the chin at 3:08 p.m.
Police and village officials declined to identify the shooter or victim, but the two 16-year-olds, who have attended class together, were identified by classmates at Cooperstown High School.
Cooperstown Police Chief Diana Nicols said Officer James Cox was on duty at the time. When Cox heard shots, he bolted out of the police office, saw Lippitt, and not knowing who shot whom, ordered him to stay down.
Gun drawn, Cox saw Pacherille in the foyer.
``He ordered the shooter to drop his gun,'' Nicols said.
Pacherille backed out the Fair Street door, where people were gathering outside. "Then the shooter shot himself,'' in the chin with the rifle, she said.
An official who declined to be identified said that when Pacherille was asked why he had shot Lippitt, he said he hated black people.
Cox secured the gun, called for help and the boys were rushed by the Cooperstown Emergency Squad to Bassett Heathcare, three blocks away. Their injuries are not life-threatening, said Nicols. A bullet apparently went through Lippitt's arm, and Pacherille was in surgery to have a bullet removed Friday night, an official said.
Otsego County District Attorney John Muehl said he is considering a charge of second-degree murder against the shooter, who will be tried as an adult. Muehl explained that the possible hate-crime aspect of the shooting could mean the shooter would face a greater charge than attempted murder.
inactive
April 2, 2010
Shooting in Cooperstown: UPDATE 11:30 P.M.
- Local News
-
-
Motorist rolls truck, charged with drunken driving
A motorist who continued driving after his truck rolled 360 degrees in Summit early Monday was charged with drunken driving, state police at Cobleskill said.
- Motorist rolls truck, charged with drunken driving A motorist who continued driving after his truck rolled 360 degrees in Summit early Monday was charged with drunken driving, state police at Cobleskill said.
- Mary Lorraine Hawkins RICHFIELD SPRINGS _ Mary Lorraine Hawkins, 85, went to be with the Lord on Monday, May 10, 2010, she was at Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown.
- Area briefs: Video on natural gas drilling to be presented COPES CORNERS _ The Concerned Citizens of the Butternut Valley will sponsor a video presentation about natural gas drilling at 7 p.m. today at Gilbertsville-Mount Upton Central School at 693 State Highway 51.
- Area briefs: Video on natural gas drilling to be presented COPES CORNERS _ The Concerned Citizens of the Butternut Valley will sponsor a video presentation about natural gas drilling at 7 p.m. today at Gilbertsville-Mount Upton Central School at 693 State Highway 51.
- Evelyn E. Kinney MORRIS _ Evelyn E. Kinney, 81, of Morris, passed away Jan. 17, 2010.
- Frost may have damaged plantings Traces of a visit by Jack Frost overnight might leave severe damage to plant life in Otsego, Delaware and Chenango counties, weather officials said Monday.
- Daisy Wagner Schultz WALTON _ Daisy Meda Wagner Schultz, 65, of Walton, passed away unexpectedly Sunday evening, May 9, 2010, at home.
- Frost may have damaged plantings Traces of a visit by Jack Frost overnight might leave severe damage to plant life in Otsego, Delaware and Chenango counties, weather officials said Monday.
- Edward Luke Ryder MOUNT VISION _ Edward Luke Ryder, 71, passed away Monday, May 10, 2010, at his home.
- Police probe apparent murder-suicide WALTON _ An apparent murder-suicide shooting is being investigated by the Walton Police Department, the state police and the Delaware County Sheriff's Department, Walton Police Officer Brian Laauser said Monday. The shootings occurred at 32 Union Street at about 10 p.m. Sunday, police said.
- Police probe apparent murder-suicide WALTON _ An apparent murder-suicide shooting is being investigated by the Walton Police Department, the state police and the Delaware County Sheriff's Department, Walton Police Officer Brian Laauser said Monday. The shootings occurred at 32 Union Street at about 10 p.m. Sunday, police said.
-
3 area lawyers say Kagan likely to be confirmed
Elena Kagan is likely to be confirmed as United States Supreme Court justice and seems qualified for the post, according to three area lawyers.
Kagan, the nations solicitor general and a former dean of Harvard Law School, is President Barack Obamas choice to succeed retiring Justice John Paul Stevens. - Alyce H. Roberts ONEONTA _ Alyce H. Roberts, 89, of Oneonta, passed away Sunday, May 9, 2010, at home.
-
3 area lawyers say Kagan likely to be confirmed
Elena Kagan is likely to be confirmed as United States Supreme Court justice and seems qualified for the post, according to three area lawyers.
Kagan, the nations solicitor general and a former dean of Harvard Law School, is President Barack Obamas choice to succeed retiring Justice John Paul Stevens. -
Outdoor biking program starts in city
ONEONTA _ An outdoor biking program Tuesday nights has begun in Oneonta.
The group meets at the Brenner Recreational Center near Hodges Pond in Neahwa Park at 5 p.m. -
Outdoor biking program starts in city
ONEONTA _ An outdoor biking program Tuesday nights has begun in Oneonta.
The group meets at the Brenner Recreational Center near Hodges Pond in Neahwa Park at 5 p.m. - Marc E. Guy DELHI _ A graveside memorial service for Marc E. Guy, 79, of Delhi, who passed away Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010, at Hospice of the Golden Isles,
- Bridge work to take place on I-88 today OTEGO _ Crews will be working on bridge maintenance on Interstate 88 eastbound between exit 12 in Otego and exit 13 in Oneonta beginning at 8 a.m. today, a media release said.
- David C. Yager ONEONTA _ Graveside services with military honors for David C. Yager, who passed away Feb. 7, 2010, will be at 1 p.m. Friday, May 14, 2010, in the West Oneonta Cemetery.
-
Motorist rolls truck, charged with drunken driving
