POUGHKEEPSIE – Two men that police say were involved in the shooting of a Poughkeepsie man in March were arraigned on murder and manslaughter charges before Dutchess County Court Judge Edward McLoughlin. Jan Michael Deere, 38, and Joseph Gonzalez, 46, are charged with the shooting and subsequent death of Jaquan Fryar.
Deere was arraigned on murder and criminal possession of a weapon while Gonzalez was arraigned on a manslaughter charge during Friday’s proceedings.
The investigation by the City of Poughkeepsie Police says that Deere shot Fryar in the head at 4:30 a.m. on March 30, near a social club located at 446 Main Street in Poughkeepsie. After being shot in the head, Fryar collapsed on the sidewalk. While lying there, police say Gonzalez went to Fryar and began stomping on his head several times.
Fryar was transported to MidHudson Regional Hospital where he remained on life support until he passed away on April 20, 2024. His cause of death was determined to be complications of a gunshot wound and blunt impact injuries to the head.
Following the arraignments, both men were remanded to the custody of the Dutchess County Jail.
