An arrest has been made in the shooting death of a 12-year-old in Syracuse earlier this week.

Syracuse Police Chief Frank Fowler announced the arrest of Alberto E. Pinet, 22, in connection with the shooting death of James Springer III Wednesday night on the city's North Side. He's charged with second degree murder, attempted murder and criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree. He'll be arraigned either tonight or tomorrow, according to Fowler.

 

 

The attempted murder charge, in the second degree, is in connection with the 33-year-old woman who was grazed by a bullet in the same incident. Police have previously said she will recover.

Fowler says Springer was not the intended target; rather, it was someone who resided in the area, unrelated to Springer, and was "in close proximity" to Springer's home at the time. Fowler also said the shooting does not appear to be gang-related.

According to Fowler, Pinet opened fire on a group of people near East Division and John Streets Wednesday. In that group was James Springer the third, his step-mother and Pinet's intended target. Pinet allegedly shot both Springer and Springer's step-mother in the stomach. The little boy later died from his injuries while his step-mother survived. 

"The only thing that I can share with you is because it was because of a fight that happened between the two of them either the day of or the day before leading up to the shooting," said Fowler. 

Police say the intended target was likely an acquaintance of Springer's father. It's unclear if more arrests will be made, Fowler said, but he left the possibility open for more.

 

 

He says the arrest was possible because a number of witnesses came forward. 

"And if we act swiftly on all these cases, pretty soon the bad guys are going to get the message that you can't go off shooting in our neighborhoods. If you do, everyone is going to step up and hold you accountable," said Fowler.