49-year-old Utica man shot and killed near playground, police say

Utica, N.Y. — A 49-year-old Utica man was shot and killed just across the street from a playground on Wednesday morning, police said.

At 8:15 a.m. police responded to a home at 813 Warren St in Utica, across the street from the Edward J. Hirt Playground, where they found James Jackson already dead from gunshot wounds, according to a news release from the Utica Police Department.

Multiple people were inside the house when Jackson was shot and killed and police were able to get a description of a suspect, police said.

An investigator was on the way to the police station when they noticed a man matching the suspect description on Court Street and called officers, police said.

The officers tried to stop the man but he ran from them, police said. They managed to catch him a short distance away on Genesee Street, police said.

Police frisked the man and found a handgun, police said. He was taken to the police station and officers are continuing to investigate, police said.

Staff writer Rylee Kirk covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, story idea, photo, question or comment? Reach her at 315-396-5961, on Twitter @kirk_rylee, or [email protected].