POUGHKEEPSIE – Gun violence erupted in Poughkeepsie early Friday morning, sending five victims to local hospitals. The shootings happened in a number of locations between 1 a.m. and 2:23 a.m. on October 29.
City of Poughkeepsie Police, with the assistance of the Town of Poughkeepsie Police, State Police, Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, FBI Safe Streets Task Force, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms are working to solve the shootings.
Minutes after 1 a.m. Friday, City 911 received multiple calls for a large fight and shots fired in the vicinity of Revel 32 on Cannon Street. The event venue was the site of a promoted rap concert with Kay Flock.
Police sources say that a group of people from the Albany area traveled to Poughkeepsie on a party bus to attend the show. When the group got to Revel 32, they learned that the performer had failed to show up. As all available police units responded to the scene, witnesses directed them to a person who was allegedly in possession of a handgun. As the officers made contact with the suspect, he attempted to run away. Officers gave chase attempted to take him into custody but he physically resisted and was unsuccessfully tased.
The young man, later identified as Poughkeepsie resident Tysean Dixon, 18, continued to resist officers. As they struggled with Dixon, a large crowd surrounded officers and began to throw bottles at the cops, forcing them to call for additional assistance. Backup units from the State Police, Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, Town of Poughkeepsie Police, and MTA Police responded to the urgent situation.
Once in custody, Dixon was found in possession of a loaded Smith and Wesson .22 caliber semi-automatic handgun. Additionally, a canvass of the scene led to the recovery of a loaded polymer 9mm semi-automatic handgun bearing no manufacturer markings or serial number, known as a “ghost gun” that had been discarded under a parked vehicle.
Dixon was arrested and charged with felony criminal possession of a weapon and misdemeanor charges of resisting arrest and obstruction of governmental administration.
At 1:33 a.m., police were sent to the area of South Clinton and Montgomery Streets for reports of “shots fired.” Five shell casings were recovered from that area.
At 1:52 a.m. the city cops responded to a report from a deputy sheriff of “shots fired” in the area of Main and Hamilton Streets. Multiple units responded to the area and observed the party bus leaving from Revel 32.
Through the course of the investigation, it was determined that three victims had been shot during this incident. One victim sustained a gunshot wound to the pelvis and the second victim sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the arm and back. These victims were dropped off by the tour bus at Vassar Brothers Medical Center. A third victim sustained a gunshot wound to the chest and was transported to Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital in a private vehicle, with a life-threatening wound. Numerous shell casings were located at the scene.
Just after 2 a.m., several police units were dispatched to Vassar Brothers Medical Center for an additional gunshot victim and a fight in the ER. It was determined that the victims were the ones that had been previously dropped off at the hospital by the party bus. No evidence of a fight was found.
Police Chief Tom Pape noted that the violence continued and his officers responded to a report of “shots fired” at 2:23 a.m. in the area of Vassar Brothers.
The subsequent investigation indicated that the incident likely occurred near 143 South Avenue. Police recovered 24 shell casings from the South Avenue location and located two additional gunshot victims.
At 5:06 a.m. officers located and recovered a high-capacity drum magazine containing 45 live rounds of ammunition at the intersection of Mill Street and Columbus Drive.
Chief Pape indicated that the amount of violence in the few short hours was the worst he has experienced in 30 years in the city. Additional police officers were requested to return to work at approximately 2 a.m. to assist with the violence. Pape said many of the officers responded and all of the police agencies worked very hard during the life-threatening violence that was taking place.
“A number of the gunshot victims were occupants of the party bus that had been spotted in several locations throughout the city, including Revel 32,” the chief said.
The bus, which sustained at least 27 bullet strikes, was impounded by city police. As of Friday afternoon, the police were working with the Dutchess County District Attorney’s Office to obtain a search warrant in order to fully examine the bus. Police Captain Rich Wilson indicated that the victims, as well as the other bus passengers, are being “less than cooperative” with the police investigation. The victims, according to Chief Pape, are from the cities of Albany and Poughkeepsie.
In total, police say there were five gunshot victims, they recovered 45 shell casings, and 48 live rounds of ammunition related to the party bus incidents. The bus is owned by Party Bus Express LLC, in Oceanside, NY.
The investigation is ongoing and police are asking anyone that may have information regarding the incidents to call (845)451-7577.
