Standoff on Westcott Street ends with one arrest

A standoff between Syracuse Police and people inside a convenience store on Westcott Street ended with an arrest Sunday night.

A man barricaded himself inside Hitham’s Pop Shop at 507 Westcott St. with a woman, a store clerk, and two dogs.

According to Syracuse Police, officers initially responded to a call at the corner of South Beech and Judson streets around 8:45 p.m. A man and woman were walking their dogs, and the man was reportedly waving a gun.

Quickly after officers arrived at the scene, the man, along with the woman and dogs, retreated inside the convenience store and barricaded himself inside. The store was occupied by one other person, the store clerk.

Around the time the call went out, Syracuse University issued an alert asking that students and faculty stay away from the area.

“On Sunday, April 17th, 2022 at approximately 8:44 p.m., the Onondaga County Emergency 911 Center received a report of an incident that occurred on the 500 block of Westcott St. The Syracuse Police Department is on the scene and investigating this incident. We ask that you stay away from the area, at this time. More information to follow.”

The standoff lasted approximately 90 minutes while police and a SWAT team blocked off the street. A helicopter was seen hovering over the area.

When the standoff ended, a man and woman were taken out of the store in handcuffs and placed inside police cars.

A 45-year-old man was arrested, though Syracuse Police has yet to release their name or what they have been charged with. No injuries were reported.

UPDATE 4/18: Syracuse Police has released the name of a suspect charged in connection with a standoff inside a Westcott St. convenience store Sunday night.

Fernando Johnson, 45, has been charged with two felonies, second-degree possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a firearm. According to court records, Johnson was also charged with second-degree menacing and seventh-degree possession of a controlled substance. At the time of his arrest, police found crack cocaine in Johnson’s possession.

On Sunday night, Johnson had a loaded handgun in his possession and had pointed it at a woman, who said she was in fear of her life. Following a confrontation with police, Johnson barricaded himself inside Hitham’s Pop Shop with a store clerk and a woman.

Kailey Kozubowski, 22, who was with Johnson inside of the convenience store, was also taken into custody Sunday due to outstanding warrants, according to police. Both Kozubowski and Johnson are being held at the Onondaga County Justice Center.