A music education student at the State University of New York’s Potsdam campus died after being shot in what was described as an isolated incident, authorities said Saturday.
New York State Police have charged Michael J. Snow, 31, of Massena, New York, with one count of second-degree murder. He was processed in Potsdam city court and remanded to the St. Lawrence county jail without bail, police said. It was not clear if he had an attorney that he could comment on.
Potsdam Police responded to a report of an unconscious woman shortly before 6:00 p.m. Friday when they found Elizabeth Howell, 21, of Patterson, NY, lying with gunshot wounds on the side of College Park Road.
She was pronounced dead about an hour after she was taken to Canton Potsdam Hospital, authorities said.
In a news release on Saturday, SUNY Potsdam said it was “deeply saddened” to share that the shooting victim was a student at the school’s Crane School of Music who was in the Class of 2022. The school’s website calls the music school “one of the best public music programs in the country.”
“We mourn the loss of Beth as a campus community and hold her family, friends and loved ones in our hearts at this difficult time,” he said.
The school said it would cancel classes on Mondays “as we work to support each other during this tragedy.” He advised students that the College Counseling Center would offer walk-in support throughout the weekend, as it also posted crisis and suicide hotline numbers.
Earlier Saturday, the school had warned people in St. Lawrence County and neighboring Franklin County to “stay alert as there may still be an active threat to the community. Lock your doors and report any suspicious activity.”
But a subsequent press release copied the language from the State Police report, saying “preliminary investigation has determined that this appears to be an isolated incident.”
SUNY Potsdam, founded in 1816, was one of the first 50 universities in the country. With less than 3,000 undergraduate students. Almost half of its students are studying science, social sciences or mathematics.
The Village of Potsdam it is located in the city of Potsdam, in the Adirondack foothills of St. Lawrence County, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) from the Canadian border.
State police said they were asked to lead the investigation.
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