Police arrest men wanted for shooting 12-year-old at candlelight vigil in Utica

Phil Stilton

UTICA, NY – Police in Utica have charged 36-year-old Willie Linder for the shooting of a 12-year-old boy and an adult male on August 17.

Linder was taken into custody on Tuesday by a U.S. Marshals Task Force.

At approximately 8:15 PM on August 16th Utica Police Department officer were dispatched to the area of the 1400 block of Whitesboro Street regarding a reported 12-year-old gunshot victim.

“Upon arrival they located the victim and mother and were informed that they were at a candlelight vigil on Columbia St when gunshots were fired and the 12-year-old victim was struck in the face by a bullet,” police reported at the time.


The child was rushed to Syracuse to have the bullet, which was lodged in his jaw, removed.

A second shooting victim, an adult male, 29, was found near Sunset Street and Oswego Street.

Linder and his accomplice, Shakeal Hendricks, 30, fired at least 20 shots during the shooting. Police said more arrests, in this case, are expected.

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