Church Street in the city of Cortland. (Photo via Google Maps).
Local authorities have identified the individual involved in a shooting incident on Christmas Eve in Cortland.
According to a City of Cortland Police Department report, the shooter was arrested on Wednesday and has been identified as Donald J. Sampson Jr., age 22 of Cortland.
The report stated that Sampson shot at a vehicle that was driving by the sidewalk in front of a multi-family dwelling on 11 Church St. in Cortland. The vehicle, which contained a male driver and a female passenger, drove away as soon as the incident occurred.
The male and female in the vehicle soon realized that the female was shot in the legs, city detective lieutenant Dan Edwards said on Thursday. The female had non-life threatening injuries, as she was treated and released from Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse.
Edwards told The Cortland Voice that Sampson intended to shoot at the vehicle. Edwards, however, was unsure of Sampson’s deep intent or if he knew the male and/or female.
Sampson was charged with criminal use of a firearm and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon (both Class-C Felonies), and second-degree assault (a Class-D Felony) and second-degree reckless endangerment (a Class-A Misdemeanor).
Sampson was awaiting arraignment at the time of his arrest. Edwards declined to comment further on the incident, but noted the investigation is still active.
