Violence Erupts in Poughkeepsie Over the Halloween Weekend
Violence erupted in Poughkeepsie on Thursday night and Friday morning sending five victims to local hospitals. Source: Greta Stuckey '23
Violence erupted in Poughkeepsie on Thursday night and Friday morning sending five victims to local hospitals. The City received multiple 911 calls for a large fight and shots fired at Revel 32 on Cannon Street. The event venue was the site of a promoted rap concert with Kay Flock.
On Saturday morning, Marist’s Director of Safety and Security John Blaisdell sent an email to the Marist community in regards to the violence. The Office of Safety & Security sent a Marist alert to students which allowed students to receive a message on their phone and prompted them to check their email regarding the violence.
“Out of an abundance of caution, we recommend you consider staying near campus and avoiding the downtown area in the immediate future, particularly in the late-night and early morning hours, until police investigations are complete,” Blaisdell said in an email.
Around 10:20 pm on May Street, a stabbing was reported and a male was found with a stab wound in the ribs after an assault near Pershing Avenue Park. The victim was taken to MidHudson Regional Hospital with an injury that was not life-threatening.
Then, right before midnight, police responded to a shot fired on Cannon Street where they saw a driver strike a parked car. In a press conference, the police said they tried to stop the driver, who fled before hitting a wall on Mansion Street. The driver then ran away and has not been found since. State police took a passenger from that car into custody and seized two handguns that were in the car.
“We have not seen this level of gun violence in many, many years,” Poughkeepsie Mayor Rob Rolison said to the Poughkeepsie Journal. “I don't know what the answer is. It's unimaginable to me. It's time to stop it, and I don't know exactly when that is going to happen.”
The sheriff's office then heard gunfire near Main Street and Hamilton Street. Police saw a tour bus leaving the area from Revel 32 and the bus then took three people to the hospital with gunshot wounds.
The bus was then traveling on South Avenue when it was shot at, with gunfire striking two people on board, police said. The bus driver then took those two people to the hospital. The police reported that the tour bus had multiple bullet holes in the exterior, and everyone was taken off the bus and interviewed before the bus was impounded.
“It is important to note that none of these horrible incidents involved Marist students, nor did they take place in locations that Marist students frequently visit,” Blaisdell said to the Marist community. “Should there be any indication that these violent actions pose any threat to our College community, you will be notified immediately.”
With the rise in violent crimes in the Poughkeepsie area, The Marist Office of Safety & Security encouraged students to have an enjoyable, but safe Halloween weekend. Security will be speaking with local law enforcement to obtain more information on the violent incidents that occurred over the weekend.