UTICA, NY — Things got real serious real fast Tuesday morning in Utica.

According to the Utica Police Department, officers were dispatched around 9:15 AM to the Oneida Square area after reports of shots being fired. Not exactly the kind of wake-up call folks are looking for.

Police say when they got there, they learned a male suspect had fired several rounds at individuals near a vehicle before taking off. That vehicle also left the scene shortly after.

Officers didn’t waste time.

They located a man matching the description on the 1400 block of Oneida Street. As they moved in, police say the suspect ditched a handgun — which was later recovered. Authorities confirmed it was a loaded .40 caliber Sig Sauer.

Once identified, the suspect — Joseph Fields, age 57 of Utica — was taken into custody along with the weapon.

Now here’s where it stacks up:

He’s facing multiple serious charges, including:

  • Criminal Possession of a Weapon (2nd Degree)
  • Criminal Possession of a Weapon (3rd Degree)
  • Criminal Possession of a Firearm
  • Attempted Assault (1st Degree)
  • Reckless Endangerment (1st Degree)

Let’s be real for a second — firing rounds in a public area like that? That’s the kind of situation that could’ve gone sideways real quick.

Thankfully, police were on it fast.

No word yet on injuries tied directly to the incident, and the investigation is considered closed at this time.


All individuals are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.