POUGHKEEPSIE – City of Poughkeepsie Police, assisted by agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, including an ATF K9, Saturday conducted a thorough search of the exterior and interior of a party bus linked to several shootings in the city early Friday morning.
The bus, owned by Party Bus Express, LLC from Long Island, was believed to have carried people who were involved in several shooting incidents that occurred between midnight on Thursday until at least 2 a.m. on Friday.
Police say that the bus, which was struck by at least 27 bullets as it traveled from Revel 32 on Canon Street, its original destination, to locations throughout the city and is vital to the investigation. It is believed that at least two passengers were shot while on the bus. At one point, police say, the bus dropped the two wounded passengers at Vassar Brothers Medical Center.
The bus was impounded by police early Friday morning in the area of Vassar Brothers Medical Center and held behind police headquarters, with officers stationed near it for security.
A warrant was secured so that investigators would collect evidence from the vehicle.
Saturday’s search of the bus resulted in the recovery of five handguns and numerous items of evidence. Since late Thursday evening, police have recovered at least seven firearms alleged to have been used in the various shootings that have erupted this past week.
Dutchess County Chief Assistant District Attorney Matt Weishaupt, reached on Saturday, was asked about the range of the search warrant. The veteran prosecutor declined, saying, “This matter is the subject of an ongoing criminal investigation. As such we cannot share any information as it may impair the integrity of the investigation.”
