UTICA After an investigation that started after ShotSpotter equipment recorded over 15 gunshots in the city last month, a 30-year-old man from Utica was taken into custody on many weapons-related offenses.
With the help of the Utica Police and Oneida County Sheriff’s Warrants Units, as well as the Utica Police Crime Prevention Unit, investigators saw Gil Cepeda and stopped his car on June 30.
Following the ShotSpotter alert, police units were first sent to the 1500 block of Steuben Street on June 4.
Officers sent the investigation to the GIVE Unit after discovering spent casings at the scene.
Investigators concluded that the perpetrator fired at people inside a car after leaving a business.
A loaded 9mm ghost gun, six more magazines, including one 50-round drum-style magazine, and three other weapons were found by police during an inventory search of Cepeda’s car.
Cepeda was accused of aggravated unlicensed operation, criminal possession of a firearm, two charges of criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree due to a high capacity magazine and a prior conviction, and criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree.
According to police, there will probably be more charges in connection with the investigation into the shots fired.
