The crime scene on Lilac Street
/ file photo
SYRACUSE -- There is a new twist in the case of a Syracuse Department of Public Works employee who was shot and killed outside his home on Lilac Street last month. 16-year-old Ja’le Johnson was originally charged with second degree murder after the death of 47-year-old Casimir Snyder, who was shot in the neck on January 4 while leaving his house to pick his wife up from work. Now the Onondaga County District Attorney says Johnson was not the the person who pulled the trigger.
A 15-year-old identified as Shawn Rhines is now facing second degree murder charges in connection with Snyder's death. The district attorney's office says that Johnson had confessed to the murder, but shortly after Johnson’s arrest investigators began hearing from witnesses that Johnson may not have been the person responsible for Snyder's death. Eventually police questioned Rhines, who confessed to the shooting.
Rhines was arraigned Tuesday and is being charged as a juvenile. He faces a maximum of 15 years to life in prison. Johnson, a student at the Carnegie Alternative School, still faces prosecution for his role in the crime. He has been indicted on charges of criminal facilitation, hindering prosecution, perjury, and criminal possession of a weapon. Police say Johnson intentionally misled authorities in a test of loyalty to see if his friend would step forward or let him take the blame.
Evidence at the crime scene showed that the shot which killed Snyder was fired sniper-style from a high location. Detectives then found an open attic window across the street and a bullet casing inside the attic. Police say the buddies would hang out in the attic of Johnson's brother's house and target practice with their rifles. They started by shooting at objects, then squirrels and rabbits.
Snyder's death was the first homicide in the City of Syracuse in 2009.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
