Man charged with attempted murder of security officer at Regional Transportation Center in Syracuse
Syracuse, N.Y. May 12 2020— A security guard at the Regional Transportation Center in Syracuse was shot and injured today, along with a passenger, during an overnight shooting, according to Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick and the Onondaga County Sheriff’s office.
Andrew Booker, 31, address unknown, was charged with two counts of attempted murder and criminal possession of a weapon, Fitzpatrick said Sunday morning. Booker had an illegal handgun, Fitzpatrick said.
The incident occurred shortly after 2 a.m. at the train and bus station at 1 Walsh Circle, near the Regional Market.
Sgt. Jon Seeber, speaking for the Sheriff’s Office, said Booker had arrived by bus to the transportation center.
The incident began when Booker pointed his gun, aimed and fired at a person who fled, but the gun misfired, Fitzpatrick said.
Booker then rechecked his gun, chambered a round and fired, possibly at the fleeing person, the DA said.
Instead, the shot hit a passenger in the leg, who has since been treated and released from the hospital, he said.
Booker then fired another round, striking a RTC security guard in the midsection, Fitzpatrick said. He was transported to a Syracuse hospital, and is expected to survive. The security guard has not been identified.
Multiple police responded to the scene and confronted Booker who was armed, Fitzpatrick said. A sheriff’s deputy fired a round at Booker, and missed, Fitzpatrick said. Booker then surrendered to deputies.
Booker will be arraigned on the charges this evening, according to the DA. The deputy who fired a round has not been identified.
