Man faces attempted murder charge
PHILMONT, N.Y. >> An 18-yearold Philmont man has been accused of trying to kill another man outside an apartment building on Church Street, authorities said.
Jayden T. Lockenwitz, of Main Street, was charged with attempted murder, a felony, in connection with a shooting that happened on Saturday, Feb. 18, at about 4:21 p.m. according to Columbia County Sheriff Donald J. Krapf.
Krapf said in a press release that Lockenwitz was also charged with criminal use of a firearm and five counts of reckless endangerment, all felonies, as well as endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor.
On Feb. 18, Philmont police received a 911 call for a report of shots fired in the area of 7 Church St., deputies said.
During the course of the investigation by police and deputies, it was determined that just before the call, Lockenwitz confronted a man who was outside of an apartment on Church Street, deputies said.
An argument erupted between the two men and Lockenwitz fired multiple shots from a handgun at the victim, deputies said. At the time of the shooting, there were several other people in the immediate area, but none were struck by bullets. Rounds did strike the residence, however, authorities said, adding that Lockenwitz fled the scene before police arrived.
An arrest warrant was issued by the Philmont Village Justice Court for Lockenwitz and a search for him was conducted by members of the Sheriff’s Office, the state police, and the Philmont Police Department, the release said. On the evening of Sunday, Feb. 19, it was determined that Lockenwitz was in a vehicle along with two other male occupants traveling on Gahbauer Road in the town of Claverack.
The release said the vehicle was stopped at about 7:59 p.m. During the course of the stop, a male passenger in the vehicle, later identified as Kyjuan W. Hotaling, 19, discarded an object out of the window that was later recovered, deputies said.
This object was determined to be narcotics consisting of approximately 53 grams of crack cocaine and powdered cocaine with a street value of approximately $4,200, they added.
Both Lockenwitz and Hotaling were taken into custody, deputies said. At the time of the arrest, Lockenwitz was found to have a loaded 9mm handgun in his possession and Hotaling was found to be in possession of approximately $1,700 in cash along with drug paraphernalia, according to the release. He was charged with two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance and one count of tampering with physical evidence, all felonies, deputies said.
Both suspects were arraigned before Judge Carla Ingersol in Philmont Village Court. Lockenwitz was ordered held at Columbia County Jail without bail and Hotaling was released without bail, the release said.
Both are scheduled to return at a later court date.
Anyone with information regarding the incident should call the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigative Branch at (518) 828-4316 or the Sheriff’s Office Confidential Crime Tip Line at (518) 828-8477.