Two fatal shootings in two days; Utica Police: "unrelated"

By By JOLEEN FERRIS

Story Created: Sep 2, 2008 at 10:56 AM EST

Story Updated: Sep 2, 2008 at 1:30 PM EST

UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - A lot of times when there's a shooting or homicide immediately following another, some of the first thoughts to spring to mind include "retaliation." And it's something police look at, as well.

Police believe Omar Thompson, 22, of Utica, is responsible for the homicide on Sunday, August 31st at 1527 Oneida Street that left Mark Dukett, 42, of Camden dead and Jeanie O'Brien, 54, of Utica injured.

Thompson is under arrest for the murder Dukett, pleading not-guilty at an arraignment Sunday night. Tuesday morning he was in Utica City Court to be assigned an attorney. The public defender will represent him.

Police say even though they happened just two days apart, it doesn't look like this shooting deaths are related.

"We cross-referenced some similarities, but at this point, we don't see any connection in the shootings that occurred over Labor Day weekend and the one [Monday]," said Public Safety Commissioner Daniel LaBella said.

Coming up at NEWSChannel 2 at 6, his stepdaughter remembers last night's shooting victim James Johnson, and a look at why he might have been murdered.
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