AG Report: Man Shot and Killed on Father's Day Was Armed

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A community is still searching for answers about the deadly Father's Day shooting near Skiddy Park in Syracuse

"Sooner or later the truth has to come out,” said community activist and founder of OGs Against Violence, Clifford Ryan.

There was a large annual gathering on Otisco Street when there were reports of a noise complaint and a person down. Officer Kelsey Francemone reported hearing gunshots in the Stone Court area and ran to the scene. 41-year-old Gary Porter and a 31-year-old woman were both shot during the incident, but which gun fired the bullets is still unknown. Tuesday, investigators released one new piece of the puzzle: Porter was armed during the incident.

The state attorney general's office said in a statement that, "Based on the evidence collected during our review, including eyewitness accounts that support the officer’s statement that the decedent was armed, we have determined that this case is outside the jurisdiction conferred upon the Attorney General's office under the Executive Order.”

Still, the overall investigation is far from over, but the attorney general's office will no longer be the ones in charge. Now, it's up to the Onondaga County District Attorney, who, in a statement said, "We continue to work with SPD and our Forensic Science Center to gather all the eyewitness and forensic evidence to determine exactly what happened. When that investigation is completed the matter will be presented to a Grand Jury consistent with my long established office policy and once that body makes its findings, the Chief and I will give a full and transparent account of what happened."

The incident has sparked outrage in the community, shining a spotlight on the violence and residents' relationship with police. For many on the near west side, the truth is all they're asking for.

"I still stand my ground in wanting all of the facts instead of a speculative statement that he probably was armed or that there is belief that he was armed,” Ryan said. “In that statement right there, there's still questions."

Police say multiple guns were fired that night, including one from their own officer. As for now, there's no timetable on when officials will release more information.

The Attorney General's office will discontinue their investigation now that they say Porter was armed. By an Executive Order, they will investigate cases where an unarmed civilian is killed during an encounter with police. They will also investigate if there is a significant question whether a civilian was armed and dangerous when that encounter occurred.