Originally Posted by local news
Syracuse police make arrest in double homicide
Updated: 01/10/2009 05:45 PM
By: Katie Morse
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Police say a bad drug deal between John Gilchrist III and his victim, Jodie Cohens, likely led to the double homicide New Year's Eve.
They arrested the Gilchrist, 28, for the murder of Cohens and his cousin William Fowler.
Police say Gilchrist knew Cohens from an incident this summer.
"We believe that Mr. Cohen and several other folks were involved in a rip off, a drug rip off, of Mr. Gilchrist, in which they provided approximately a kilogram of fake cocaine for $23,000," said Michael Kerwin, Deputy Chief of Police.
Despite the history between the two, police say Cohens came to Gilchrist on New Year's Eve and asked the same man he ripped off only months before to help him find a handgun.
Cohens and his cousin arranged a meeting with Gilchrist that police say lead to his death.
Syracuse police make arrest in double homicide
Police make an arrest in the double homicide from New Year's Eve, and say a drug rip-off was likely the motive. John Gilchrist III, 28, was arrested in the shootings. Our Katie Morse spoke with police, and has more on his relationship with the victims.
"Mr. Gilchrist open fired on the car, Mr. Cohens was shot and killed in the drivers' seat. Never moved. Mr. Fowler attempted to exit the vehicle, and in fact we found him on the road behind that vehicle," said Kerwin.
The murders of Cohens and Fowler were the last two in 2008. So far this year, the City of Syracuse has had two murders, and police have made arrests in both of them. They say the communities help in cases like these is vital.
"Everything that we do is dependent upon community cooperation. That's really the key. Everything we do," said Kerwin
Police say they don't believe Gilchrist acted alone, and they expect to make additional arrests.
Gilchrist is charged with two counts of second degree murder, as well as criminal possession of a controlled substance and driving under the influence of drugs.
Police say he's had more than five prior felony arrests.