Police on the scene on West Matson Avenue near Onondaga Creek Boulevard Monday evening
/ photo by Alex Dunbar
SYRACUSE -- A Syracuse man is charged with robbery in connection with a shooting after he was run over by his targets.
Police say 22-year-old Gregory Jones shot at an SUV near the corner of West Matson Avenue and Onondaga Creek Boulevard on Monday evening. Jones was then run over by the SUV he had been shooting at.
Police say the incident started when Jones met Steven Glen, 52, and Eloise Smith, 44, in the 200 Block of Evaleen Avenue to buy cocaine. When they met, Jones pulled out a gun, stole the cocaine, and fled the scene.
Glen and Smith then went to 63-year-old Willie Jones’s home in Syracuse. Willie Jones is Smith’s father and is not related to Gregory Jones.
Police say they told Willie Jones that a man had just pulled a gun on them, but they did not tell them it was drug-related. The three of them got into Willie Jones’s Chevy Trailblazer and went looking for Gregory Jones.
At about 5:00pm, police say Glen, Smith and Willie Jones spotted Gregory Jones in the 300 block of West Matson Avenue.
Police say that as the SUV, driven by Willie Jones, approached, Gregory Jones pulled out a loaded .380 caliber handgun and pointed it at the SUV.
Willie Jones told police he ducked down to avoid potentially being shot but still had his foot on the gas pedal. He said he heard a shot and then the car hit Gregory Jones.
Police say Willie Jones immediately called 911 and stayed at the scene until police arrived.
Police say that when they arrived at the scene, they found Gregory Jones in possession of 34 grams of cocaine and a handgun.
As a result of being hit by the SUV, Gregory Jones suffered compound fractures to his right and left legs, a head injury, and internal bleeding. He was transported to Upstate University Hospital in critical condition and underwent emergency surgery. He is expected to survive.
Gregory Jones is currently under arrest at the hospital. Police charged him with robbery, criminal possession of a weapon, two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance, and reckless endangerment.
No charges have been filed against Willie Jones and the investigation into the drug transaction is ongoing.
