Photo: Mike Blaney/Ithaca Voice
ITHACA, N.Y. — Ithaca police said Thursday afternoon that the late night stabbing yesterday was not a random act of violence — the victim and the two suspects still at large knew each other.
Chief John Barber said in statement, "My Investigators are working vigorously to develop solid information regarding what occurred. At this very moment they are tracking down leads in the pursuit of justice."
Just after 7:40 p.m. Wednesday, a 27-year-old Dryden man was stabbed in the leg after he told police that he saw two men stealing items out of his vehicle on the 400 block of Stewart Avenue. The man was taken in a Bangs Ambulance to a regional trauma center and officials said he is expected to survive, though his wound was "serious."
The suspects, who are still at large and may be armed with a gun, are described by police as, "two black males, one possibly wearing a red shirt and the other with a "man bun.” Officials said they were working to develop better descriptions of the men but have not released more information as of Thursday afternoon.
Police officers from the Ithaca Police Department, Tompkins County Sheriff's Department, New York State Police and Cornell University Police scoured the Collegetown area last night -- with police searching the city cemetery nearby Stewart Avenue and extra patrols through the densely student- populated area.
Cornell officials said the victim is not affiliated with the university, which was put on a "shelter in place" lock down until almost 9:30 p.m.
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."
Barber confirmed in a recent news release, "...nothing developed so far has suggested that this stabbing is related to the Anthony Nazaire homicide stabbing in August."
Police are asking anybody with information about either crime to contact IPD using one of the following methods:
Police Dispatch: 607-272-3245
Police Administration: 607-272-9973
Crime Stoppers Tipline: 607-697-0333
Email Tip Address: http://www.cityofithaca.org/FormCenter/Ithaca-Police-Department-5/Ithaca-Police-Department-Tipline-47
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ithacapolice
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ithacapolice
Instagram: http://instagram.com/ithacapolice
Read the news release in it's entirety below:
Last night at about 7:41 pm a person was stabbed on Stewart Avenue in the City of Ithaca. A Media Release was sent regarding this stabbing. Chief of Police John R. Barber would like to assure the public that nothing developed so far has suggested that this stabbing is related to the Anthony Nazaire homicide stabbing in August.
The two incidents genuinely appear to be unrelated to each other.
Chief Barber stated “We have determined that the stabbing last night was not a random act of violence, and that the victim and the suspects knew each other. My Investigators are working vigorously to develop solid information regarding what occurred. At this very moment they are tracking down leads in the pursuit of justice. If you have any information that would aid the Ithaca Police Department in this investigation please contact us”.
