Update at 11:38 p.m.
Ithaca police have confirmed that a Dryden man who was stabbed in the leg Wednesday night at the Stewart Avenue Bridge is expected to survive his injuries.
Ithaca Police Department Deputy Chief Vince Monticello said the man saw two people removing things from his vehicle and got into an altercation with them, resulting in him being stabbed. The man is not affiliated with Cornell.
As of late Wednesday night, police continue looking for two suspects in the case who witnesses described as two black males, one possibly wearing a red shirt and the other with a "man bun.” Police are continuing to interview witnesses for better descriptions. Both perpetrators were seen fleeing in the direction of the cemetery on Stewart Ave.
Additional information indicated that one of the men may be in possession of a semi-automatic hand gun.
Police were at the scene on the 400 block of Stewart Avenue until about 9:30 p.m.
A red SUV was seen being towed from directly in front of the old Chapter House on Stewart Avenue.
Cornell Interim President Hunter R. Rawlings III said in a statement, "Tonight’s incident is particularly troubling as it comes a little more than four weeks after Ithaca College student Anthony Nazaire was murdered in a stabbing on Campus Road, an incident that is still actively being investigated."
Police have made no arrests in the murder case but have repeatedly asked the public for videos and information.
Monticello said there is no reason to believe the stabbings are related.
For more information about Cornell's "shelter in place" lock down and to read other details as they broke from the scene, see the updates below:
At 7:43 p.m. on Sept. 28, 2016, several local law enforcement agencies responded to a reported stabbing at 418 Stewart Ave. One victim was identified and transported to a local hospital for further treatment.
Witnesses describe the perpetrators as two black males, one possibly wearing a red shirt and the other with a "man bun.” Police are continuing to interview witnesses for better descriptions. Both perpetrators were seen fleeing in the direction of the cemetery on Stewart Ave. Additional information indicated that one of the men may be in possession of a semi-automatic hand gun.
Police searched the area while a "shelter in place" caution was communicated through the Emergency Message Notification system to the Cornell campus community. The caution was lifted at 9:27 p.m. after police determined the perpetrators left the area.
Cornell Police are adding extra patrols in the west campus area, and have increased the availability of Blue Light Escort Teams.
The police investigation is ongoing. If you have any information that would aid this investigation, please contact the Ithaca Police Department at 607-272-3245.
Any further information will be posted at emergency.cornell.edu.
Update as of 10:15 p.m.
Ithaca police are reporting that a man has been stabbed near the Stewart Avenue Bridge Wednesday night around 7:40 p.m.
A vehicle in front of the old Chapter House site was photographed and inspected by Ithaca Police, and towed off the scene.
Following the search, there is no longer a police presence on the Stewart Avenue Bridge.
CornellALERT for the Cornell Ithaca campus gave the all clear at 9:27 p.m., lifting the shelter in place advisory which was in place since 8:31 p.m.
According to the message from the Cornell University emergency notification system, the area was searched, and police believe that the suspects left the immediate vicinity but are still at large. One of the suspects may have a hand gun. There are extra police patrols in the area.
Ithaca Police Department Deputy Chief Vince Monticello said it appears that the college-aged male caught two people stealing items from his vehicle and an altercation ensued. The male was then stabbed.
He was transported in a Bangs Ambulance to a regional trauma center and is expected to survive the attack, but Monticello said the wound was serious.
Police are currently looking for two suspects in relation to the incident.
The Ithaca Police Department, New York State Police, Cornell Police and the Tompkins County Sheriff's Office are at the scene.
Cornell University issued a crime alert to its students and employees via email, text or phone call.
Monticello said it is too early to determine if the incident is related to the stabbing that took the life of Anthony Nazaire last month in a street brawl, but officials he said there is currently no reason to believe the two incidents are related.
He declined to say whether police found weapons or other evidence at the scene, not are suspect descriptions available at this time.
This is a developing story. Jennifer Wholey and Mike Blaney contributed reporting.
