Utica Man Charged After Shots-Fired Incident

Police arrested Lamont Brown following a week-long investigation into the April 3 shooting.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 4:10pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a 9mm shell casing lying on a concrete surface, capturing the textural details and dramatic lighting to convey the serious, investigative nature of the crime scene.The recovery of spent shell casings at the scene of a shooting incident serves as critical physical evidence for investigators.Utica Today

A 49-year-old Utica man has been charged with multiple offenses after a shots-fired incident on April 3 that endangered an uninvolved bystander. Police responded to the area of Sunset Avenue and Warren Street and found two spent 9mm shell casings, leading to a week-long investigation that identified Lamont Brown as one of the shooters based on surveillance footage. Brown was arrested on April 8 without further incident.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the ongoing challenges Utica faces with gun violence and the need for effective policing strategies to quickly identify and apprehend suspects in order to protect public safety. The fact that an uninvolved bystander was nearly struck by gunfire underscores the serious risks these types of shooting incidents pose to the community.

The details

According to police, officers responded to the area of Sunset Avenue and Warren Street around 10:10 pm on April 3 after reports of shots fired. They found two spent 9mm shell casings on a nearby bench. Surveillance footage revealed that two individuals, including Lamont Brown, were shooting at each other in the area before fleeing on foot. The footage also showed an uninvolved bystander seated on a nearby bench who was nearly struck by at least one of the shots.

  • Police were called to the scene around 10:10 pm on Friday, April 3.
  • Investigators were able to identify Lamont Brown as a suspect on Wednesday, April 8.
  • Brown was arrested without further incident on April 8.

The players

Lamont Brown

A 49-year-old Utica resident who was identified as one of the shooters involved in the April 3 incident based on surveillance footage.

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What’s next

The investigation into the identity of the second shooter involved in the April 3 incident is ongoing.

The takeaway

This case underscores the serious public safety risks posed by gun violence in Utica, and the importance of robust law enforcement efforts to swiftly respond to and investigate such incidents in order to hold perpetrators accountable and prevent further harm to innocent bystanders.