SYRACUSE -- Syracuse Police have made an arrest in a double homicide that happened on New Year's Eve. They've arrested 28-year-old John Gilchrist of Syracuse and charged him with two counts of second degree murder. On December 31, 24-year-old Jodie Cohens and 25-year-old William Fowler were found with multiple gunshot wounds in Syracuse's Lincoln Park. As part of their investigation, police say they found out that Cohens had sold Gilchrist fake drugs. "In the late summer of 2008, early fall of 2008, we believe Mr. Cohens and several other folks were involved in the rip-off of Mr. Gilchrist in which they provided approximately a kilogram of fake cocaine for $23,000," says Deputy Police Chief Michael Kerwin.
On the day of the murders, according to police, Cohens had asked Gilchrist to get him a gun; they were meeting at Lincoln Park to make the exchange. That's when police say Gilchrist shot the two men who were sitting in a car. Police say Fowler was not involved in the drug scam, but he was an associate of Cohens and went with him to Lincoln Park.
The shootings unnerved neighbors like Sheila Lupo who lives across the street. "Well finding out they made an arrest is nice but its scary, it's not the first shooting they've had over here," Lupo said. "Seems like every time I go away, something happens."
Police say the investigation is ongoing and they expect to make additional arrests.
