Syracuse community mourns the loss of slain officer

Silence fell over the New York State Fairgrounds on Monday morning as hundreds gathered for the funeral of Onondaga County Sheriff’s Lt. Michael A. Hoosock who was shot and killed April 14 in Salina with a fellow officer.

Following a silent motorcade of emergency vehicles flashing only their lights, law enforcement officers from across the state and as far as Vermont stood in salute as pallbearers carried the American flag-draped casket into the Exposition Center.

Monday’s procession — the second in two days following services for Syracuse Police Officer Michael Jensen — included Onondaga County Sheriff’s Department patrol vehicles and the Syracuse Kiltie Pipe Band. 

After Hoosock’s wife, children and family were escorted into the building by law enforcement, the Air-1 helicopter hovering above quickly descended, flying over the building. 

The mass was led by Christopher Celentano, pastor of St. Rose of Lima in North Syracuse, who removed the American flag and laid the Catholic funeral pall over the casket.

Caitlin Hoosock described her husband known as “Hooch” as her best friend, biggest cheerleader and an amazing father.

“Hootch had already been a superhero when I met him for quite some time. He had saved a few lives and gotten some awards, but that didn’t seem to matter much to him,” Caitlin said during the service. “He wasn’t in it for the awards. He did it for the joy of doing the job.”

Hoosock, 37, has three children, Nicole, Gabriel and Samuel Hoosock.

 “He loved his job and put in plenty of hours…but he also made sure to be up for Little League games, Polar Express and meet grades with the teachers, or even special nailpolish dates with Nikki,”  Caitlin said.

Hoosock was described as a dedicated public servant, working as a firefighter, paramedic, police officer and bomb squad commander during his 16-year career.

Jordan volunteer firefighter Tyler Powell said he worked with Hoosick a handful of times.

“He was the type of guy who would give the shirt off his back if he had to,” Powell said. “He was a really great guy all in all.” 

The funeral service concluded around 1 p.m. Hoosock was privately laid to rest in Assumption Cemetery in Syracuse.

On Saturday, hundreds of community and family members gathered in Rome, New York to mourn the loss of Syracuse police officer Michael Jensen who was killed in the same shooting. Jensen was 29 years old.

Jensen joined the Syracuse Police Department in February 2022. He graduated from Le Moyne College in 2017 where he was a member of the Le Moyne College Hockey Team.

“I’m so thankful for the memories our families share and kids made,” Kimberly Blackwell wrote on Facebook. “To know the Jensen’s is to know love and lifelong friendships. It’s still so very difficult to believe Michael is gone.”

In Jensen’s obituary, his family described him as a “beloved son, brother, officer and friend.” 

He was laid to rest on Saturday in St. John’s Cemetery in Rome.

Two officers killed in Salina shootout

On April 14, Hoosock and Jensen were shot and killed on duty in Salina while investigating a suspicious vehicle. 

Shortly after 7 p.m., police officers reported that a gray Honda Civic failed to stop in a traffic stop near Tipperary Hill. The vehicle was later reported driving over 100 mph near Emerson Avenue and Hamilton Street in Syracuse.

Police officers recorded the license plate information and tracked the vehicle to a home at 4945 Darien Drive in Salina. Police responded to the address, along with members of the Onondaga County Sheriff’s office.

Shortly after arriving on the scene around 8:45 p.m., the officers observed firearms and ammunition in the vehicle. They were met by an armed male and an exchange of gunfire followed.

At 8:51 p.m., a 911 dispatcher called out over the radio, “We’ve got an officer down!” 

Hoosock and Jensen were struck by gunfire along with the suspect. The officers were rushed to Upstate University Hospital’s emergency room on East Adams Street where the three men died from their injuries.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the two law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty, as well as with their brothers and sisters in law enforcement who are suffering in the wake of this tragedy,” the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Department wrote on Facebook. “We thank the community for their outpouring of support.”

The following day, sheriff’s spokesperson Thomas Newton identified the suspect as Christopher R. Murphy, 33, from Salina. Murphy used a Springfield AR-15 gun in the shooting.

The suspect was also transported to University Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

“We lost two heroes last night,” Syracuse Police Chief Joseph Cecile said at a Monday press conference. “Two men who raised their hands and answered the call of duty to protect and serve their communities — and that is exactly what they were doing when they were gunned down.”

Many local businesses including Eva’s European Sweets and Asil’s Pub have shown support for the fallen officers by reserving space for Missing Man Tables. The tables, set with linen and a single red rose, are a tribute to fallen law enforcement officers. Other area restaurants like the Brooklyn Pickle are accepting donations for the Hoosock and Jensen families. 

Barstool Sports and the Tunnel to Towers Foundation also teamed up to raise money for the Hoosock family’s expenses including the mortgage of the family home.

“Deputy Hoosock lived a life of service,” Tunnel to Towers CEO Frank Siller said. “Now, as his family, friends and fellow first responders try to grapple with this tremendous loss, Tunnel to Towers is honored to ensure his family will be able to stay in the home and the community Michael served.”