Rochester man admits involvement in Auburn gunfight in court, now faces 15 years in prison

A Rochester man has admitted his involvement in a gunfight that took place last year outside Lavish Lounge Bar & Restaurant in Auburn, leading to serious injury to a bar employee.

Antoine Clark, 39, pleaded guilty on June 29 to two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, both class C armed violent felonies, according to a news release from the Cayuga County District Attorney’s Office.

The Auburn Police Department identified Clark as one of the two men who participated in the shooting incident on June 26, 2022.

Approximately a month after the shooting, Clark was arrested by members of the Finger Lakes Drug Task Force in Auburn.

The officers seized a 9 millimeter pistol from him, to which he confessed possessing during his court appearance. Clark, originally from Rochester, was found in the backseat of a car near Owasco Street and was apprehended following a brief struggle after attempting to flee. Police discovered a loaded 9mm handgun, a significant amount of cocaine, and over $2,000 in cash in his possession.

Clark is slated for sentencing on August 31, facing 15 years in state prison followed by five years of post-release supervision on each charge. The sentences are expected to run concurrently, as per the District Attorney’s office.