SYRACUSE, NY – On Thursday, September 1st, 2022, at around 8:00 p.m., detectives from the Syracuse Police Department Special Investigations Division investigated a suspicious person with a weapon complaint. During that investigation, a traffic stop was conducted by uniformed officers on a black Acura TL in the 500 block of Butternut Street. After officers activated their overhead lights, the Acura refused to stop and fled, at which time a vehicle pursuit was initiated. The Acura, which was occupied by two people, was pursued for several minutes and eventually ended up in the 300 block of Apple Street, where the passenger fled on foot. That suspect was later discovered hiding in the basement of a nearby residence. He was identified as Jessie Murray, 26. Murray was found to be in possession of over a thousand dollars in cash at the time he was detained. In the basement where Murray was hiding were two illegal handguns and illegal narcotics.
One of the handguns found with Murray was a loaded Thunder Bersa .380 caliber semi-automatic handgun. The handgun was loaded with four rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber. It was also learned that the handgun was stolen out of the State of North Carolina. The second weapon, a Crvena Zastava Model 70, 7.65 caliber semiautomatic handgun, contained eight live rounds, and had a filed off serial number. The suspect was also found in possession of over 300 individual doses of a tan powdery substance which tested positive for Heroin. Murray, who is not a pistol license holder, was arrested, and charged with:
– Burglary in the First Degree
– Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (2 counts)
– Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree (2 counts)
– Criminal Possession of a Firearm (2 counts)
– Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree
– Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in Third Degree (2 counts)
– Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in Fourth Degree (2 counts)
– Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in Seventh Degree (2 counts)
The driver of the Acura TL was issued multiple traffic citations and released at the scene without incident.
This removal of two illegal handguns and illegal narcotics would not have been possible without the coordinated effort of Syracuse Police Detectives and uniformed Syracuse Police Officers. On behalf of the Syracuse Police Department, we would like to thank all of the fine officers involved for their unwavering commitment to public safety and selfless service.