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Proctor teacher dead following shooting at Old Forge motel

By ANDREW DONOVAN

Story Created: Aug 25, 2012 at 3:05 PM EDT

Story Updated: Dec 23, 2012 at 6:59 PM EDT

OLD FORGE, N.Y. (WKTV) - A Proctor High School teacher has died following a shooting in Old Forge, according to New York State Police.

Police confirm that the victim is 30-year-old Catherine Koestner of Utica. According to an official on the scene, Koestner was transported to St. Elizabeth Medical Center where she later died.

State Police investigate shooting
An investigation is taking place by New York State Police. Troopers would not speculate on the circumstances surrounding the death.

State Police Lt. Michael White said, "We have to check everything. We are going through the steps in our investigation until we can conclusively determine what exactly happened."

Troopers say the incident took place at the Forge Motel in Old Forge around 1:00 a.m.

An employee of the motel told NEWSChannel 2 that Koestner and her boyfriend were sharing a room Friday night. The employee said the couple was arguing on the property.

Following the shooting, several personal items were found in the roadway near the motel including a woman's wallet, hat and undergarments.

State Police say Koestner's boyfriend is being listed as a witness to the incident. Authorities say the unidentified male is cooperating with the investigation. Lt. White would not release his name.

Authorities say there is no threat to the public's safety in the area.

Utica School District reacts
According to the Utica City School District, Koestner was a math teacher at Proctor High School.

Utica City School Superintendent Bruce Karam released a statement to NEWSChannel 2. Karam says, "She was very good at her job. She did an excellent job teaching math and she will be sorely missed by her students, her colleagues and everyone in the district. My heart goes out to her family."

She was employed at the district for either three or four years.

Second Old Forge shooting this summer
This is the second fatal shooting in Old Forge in about a month. In July, a father accidentally shot and killed his son at Clark's Beach Motel, according to police.

Clark's Beach Motel is right next door to the Forge Motel along Old Forge Pond.

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