LEE, ONEIDA CO. -- State police say a trooper shot and wounded a distraught man who pointed a high-powered rifle at officers outside a Central New York home.
Authorities say the trooper and an Oneida County Sheriff's deputy went to a home on Meadow Brook Drive around 10:22 p.m. Tuesday after a report of an armed man acting erratically in the rural town of Lee, 33 miles northeast of Syracuse.
Police say 41-year-old James D. Newbill came out of his home, fired once into the air and then walked toward the officers, who ordered him to drop the weapon. They say Newbill pointed the rifle at Trooper Shane Treen, a nine-year veteran, who fired at Newbill several times with his .223 caliber patrol rifle and hit the suspect in both hands.
"Any time an officer feels his life is threatened by deadly or physical force, we're going to respond with deadly physical force," says Trooper Jack Keller with the New York State Police. "When the suspect raised his rifle and pointed it at the trooper, the trooper had the justification to shoot."
Police say Newbill was initially taken to St. Elizabeth's Medical Center in Utica, then was transferred to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse with injuries that aren't life threatening. He is currently listed in fair condition, and is being guarded by police officers due to pending felony charges.
Police also say Newbill was involved in a car collision and an assault earlier Tuesday. He is accused of ramming into a vehicle on State Route 26, and forcing his way into a home and attacking a person inside.
Newbill's next-door neighbor says she was shocked to hear about what happened. She says Newbill is usually quiet and helps out with odd jobs around the neighborhood.
The investigation is continuing, and more charges may be filed against Newbill.
We're told the officers were not harmed in the shooting.
This is the second incident involving police and an armed suspect in Oneida County in the past two weeks. On June 7, Deputy Kurt Wyman was shot and killed while attempting to apprehend Christian Patterson at Patterson's home in the Town of Augusta. Wyman was struck once in the chest by a shotgun blast. Patterson is currently recovering from his injuries, and faces a felony aggravated murder charge once he is well enough to be arraigned.
Information from CNY Central anchor Megan Coleman and the Associated Press was used in this report.
