In the early morning hours of an April day in Utica, 49-year-old James Jackson was shot inside a residence on Warren Street and was found unresponsive when officers arrived at about 8:15 a.m. Medical aid was rendered, but Jackson was pronounced dead at the scene. Several people were in the home and provided a description of the man they believed to be the shooter.

An investigator with the Utica Police Department’s Major Crime Unit later spotted a man matching that description walking near the crime scene. The officer attempted to stop him; the man, identified as 47-year-old Ellery Jonathan Little McNeal of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, fled but was captured near Genesee Street. A search after the arrest turned up a loaded 9mm handgun believed to be the weapon used.

McNeal was charged with second-degree murder, two counts of criminal possession of a weapon and multiple drug-related offenses including possession of methamphetamine and possession with intent to sell. The motive for the shooting has not been released. If anyone knew James Jackson or has information about that April morning, please come forward.