A traffic stop on Preemption Road just south of Route 104 in Sodus turned violent Wednesday evening when a New York State Trooper shot the driver following a struggle over a handgun. The driver was airlifted to a hospital and was listed in critical but stable condition, while the trooper was not hurt.
According to 13WHAM, the shooting happened in the area of Route 104 and Preemption Road during a traffic stop. Finger Lakes Daily News reported that the stop occurred at approximately 5:08 p.m. The vehicle was reportedly pulled over for traffic violations, according to Finger Lakes Daily News. During the stop, the trooper ran the driver's license and discovered the man had several outstanding warrants, 13WHAM reports — a detail the WHEC-TV account describes as multiple search warrants that included burglary and robbery, per state police. Finger Lakes Daily News similarly reported that the driver had outstanding warrants for burglary and robbery, though 13WHAM's account did not specify which offenses the warrants involved.
A Struggle Over a Weapon Escalates Fast
After learning of the warrants, the trooper told the man to get out of the vehicle. Instead, the driver started the car back up and attempted to drive away, the station's report notes. The trooper initially pulled his Taser in an effort to take the man into custody, but the suspect then produced a handgun, prompting a struggle for the weapon between the two.
The trooper then drew his division-issued firearm and shot the suspect, per the same account. Deputies responding to the scene assisted by controlling traffic in the area while the investigation got underway.
Driver Flown to Strong Memorial, Trooper Uninjured
The suspect was airlifted by Mercy Flight to Strong Memorial Hospital, where he was listed in critical but stable condition, Finger Lakes Daily News reported. The trooper involved in the shooting was not injured.
The State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation is now investigating the shooting with assistance from the Wayne County Sheriff's Office, according to the outlet's report. Authorities said there is no ongoing threat to public safety following the incident.
A Previous Sodus Shooting
Wednesday's shooting is not the only trooper-involved shooting to hit the small Wayne County town. In June 2020, State Police responded to a report of a disturbance involving a possible shotgun at a residence on Boyd Road, according to Wayne Times. In that case, Trooper Michael Crosier returned fire after being shot at, and a Wayne County Grand Jury later found in October 2020 that the trooper's actions were justified.
No information has been released identifying the driver involved in Wednesday's shooting, and it remains unclear whether criminal charges have been filed in connection with the incident.
