ITHACA, N.Y. –– Police are investigating a firearm abandoned on the 700 block of Spencer Road –– the latest in a string of firearm-related activity in that area in the City of Ithaca. The last incident before this was a drive-by shooting reported Friday night on the 600 block of Spencer Road.
Monday afternoon officers from the Ithaca Police Department responded to the area after a citizen observed and reported the weapon in a “public area,” according to IPD Lt. Ted Schwartz. Schwartz added that the firearm, which was found to be loaded with the safety off, was located in an area “young people and children frequent.”
This is the second incident in the last month in which a loaded firearm was located on Spencer Road –– at the end of March a 12-year-old child found a loaded 9 mm semi-automatic handgun which he reported to his parents, who called the police. Friday’s drive-by shots fired was also the third time in less than six months that shots were reported in the area.
An investigation into the firearm is now being conducted and police say that it is “certainly a possibility” that it may be connected to Friday’s drive-by but that “it would be premature to say so.”
IPD is encouraging anyone with information regarding this firearm or any firearm to contact the department through the following means:
Police Dispatch: 607-272-3245
Police Administration: 607-272-9973
Police Tipline: 607-330-0000
Email: policeinfo@cityofithaca.org
Anonymous Email Tip Address: www.cityofithaca.org/ipdtips