CICERO, N.Y. -- An altercation in the town of Cicero turned fatal early Tuesday morning, when police say 55-year-old James Ball shot and killed his brother in law, 40-year-old Christopher Ross.
Ball is charged with second-degree murder and first degree criminal use of a firearm.
He is being held in the Onondaga County Justice Center, as police investigate what led up to the shooting that killed his brother-in-law.
"They were together that evening (Monday)," Sheriff Gene Conway said. "They may have gone out, there may have been a golf match involved, they may have gone to somebody else's house, but more importantly, they wound up back at the suspect's house and were there for several hours."
Sheriff Gene Conway said that at Ball's house in Chinkapin Circle, the suspect and victim got into a physical altercation.
Conway said Ball's wife separated the pair, getting her brother, Ross, outside the house.
When Ball learned that Ross hadn't left, he grabbed a 22-caliber rifle and shot Ross multiple times.
"There had been animosity between the two of them leading up to this, over what we still are not sure of," Conway said.
Ball is a fourth grade teacher in the North Syracuse Central School District.
He is being held without bail.
Conway said there is no knowledge of a criminal history.
The North Syracuse School District is now reaching out to parents, students and staff in the wake of the shooting.
In a statement, the school information officer confirmed Ball has been with the district since 2004, working for years at Smith Road Elementary School. The statement reads:
"We are deeply saddened by this devastating incident. Our school district’s primary concern is to help students, staff and the community cope during this difficult time."
The district is making counselors available Wednesday from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. at both Smith Road Elementary School and Cicero-North Syracuse High School for both students and staff.