Same incident from another source:
Suspect confirmed dead in shooting at AT&T store
Observer-Dispatch
Posted May 27, 2010 @ 01:01 PM
Last update May 27, 2010 @ 02:51 PM
NEW YORK MILLS —
An armed man who entered AT&T on Commercial Drive shortly before 1 p.m. and shot an employee was shot and killed by an off-duty Rome police officer, officials said at a 2:30 p.m. news conference.
Watch the video of that news conference
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whIQ3CKQn6A
The injured victim, who remained unidentified as of 2:30 p.m., was transported to Faxton-St. Luke's Healthcare, St. Luke's campus, Rome Public Safety Commissioner James Masucci said.
That person is believed to be in stable condition, Masucci said.
He was not releasing the names of any of the victims.
It was uncertain whether it was a robbery, Masucci said.
An AT&T store employee who was not present when the incident occurred said it involved a customer whose actions had become so troubling that he'd been banned from the store one month ago.
Peter Abraham, the employee, said the man would disturb other customers and continually made critical remarks about AT&T employees.
"He was always saying remarks that he didn't like us and that we should quit our jobs," Abraham said.
The man had shown other employees a licensed gun in the past, he said, although he said he had never seen the gun himself.
Abraham had been asked to come in early on Thursday, but he said he couldn't make it. He was at Sangertown Square when he received a telephone call about the incident and rushed to the store.
Whitesboro resident Michael Bieksza was inside the AT&T store buying screensavers for his daughter’s cell phone, speaking to a manager and an assistant manager at the counter.
Then he heard a "pop, pop, pop," as he described it later, and turned and saw a man with a gun. The man had a beard, Bieksza said.
The man had shot an AT&T employee stationed at the store's counter near the front door. Bieksza saw the wounded employee lying on the floor.
No one had said a word.
The managers, both women, and Bieksza immediately ran out a side door.
“When you hear that many shots, you think he’s just going to start spraying people," Bieksza said. "I was always taught to get out of the area and get to a safe place. The two women were on my mind. My main concern was get the two ladies out."
He heard more shots as they were running outside.
Later, Bieksza said, "I thought to myself why did I happen to be here at this particular time? I do thank God that I am still here because it's a scary feeling."
More than an hour after the shooting incident, he was still trying to reach his wife to tell her what had occurred.
Harley-Davidson store becomes safe haven
Next door to AT&T is the Harley-Davidson of Utica store, where employees became aware of trouble when an AT&T employee ran inside.
The woman "came screaming in here that there is a man with a gun and call 911," said Fran Congelo, a Harley-Davidson salesperson. "We locked down the store."
Another Harley-Davidson employee, Marzel Williams, said she ran into the back of the store and told everyone what was occurring.
Soon, Harley-Davidson workers had made their store a place of refuge for bystanders and for AT&T employees. They relied on the female AT&T employee, who had seen the gunman, to verify that individuals coming into Harley-Davidson were not that person.
Joseph Massoud of Sauquoit drove into the AT&T store parking lot in his 1980 Cadillac just after the incident occurred. He was there to have his cell phone serviced. An unmarked police car pulled up, and an officer with his pistol drawn told everyone outside the building, “Get on the ground.”
People in the Harley-Davidson store called out to Massoud, and he went into that store.
“Three minutes earlier, I would have been inside” when the shootings occurred, Massoud said, referring to the AT&T store.
Some could be overheard describing how the incident involved an angry customer who had entered the store.
Some are in tears. One woman, quite distraught, was embraced by one of the men.
Rome officials respond
Rome police Chief Kevin Beach was being contacted because it was one of his officers involved in the shooting.
Masucci said Rome has a protocol to deal with officers involved in shootings. He said the officer’s gun will be confiscated and a review of senior police staff will determine if he needs counseling.
Rome Mayor James Brown had not yet heard of the Rome officer’s involvement when an O-D reporter called him.
He phoned back a few minutes later to say Public Safety Commissioner James Masucci and police Detective Commander Timothy Bates are on their way to the scene.
“They’re going to go up there and take a look at the situation,” Brown said. “They will coordinate with the New Hartford Police Department.”
Utica police also responded to see if it was related to the armed robbery of a bank on Mohawk Street earlier in the morning, but found out it wasn't, officials said.
Oneida County District Attorney Scott McNamara arrived at the scene at about 1:15 p.m.
The store is on the eastern side of Commercial Drive near Henderson Street.
State police will be handling the investigation.
Early reports of a second suspect turned out to not be the case.
O-D reporters and photographers are at the scene. Check back for updates.
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