Fatal shooting at DEP office in Kingston

[In_The_Wind]

By Lissa Harris
2/3/14 - 9:35 am
Left: David N. Reese, who was arrested and charged with murder in the 2nd degree after allegedly shooting a coworker at the DEP on February 3, 2014. Photo via the Kingston Police Department's Facebook page.

A 33-year-old Olivebridge man was fatally shot by a coworker at the Kingston office of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection at 71 Smith Avenue around 6:45 a.m. on Monday morning. A suspect in the shooting was taken into custody at the scene shortly after the incident.

The Kingston Police Department has identified the victim as Aron Thomas of Olivebridge, in a statement issued mid-day Monday. According to New York City payroll records, Thomas was a watershed maintainer at the agency. He has worked for the DEP for nearly nine years.

On Monday afternoon, Kingston police announced the identity of the suspect: 53-year-old David N. Reese, a Gilboa resident. Reese, a DEP stationary engineer, worked in the same area of the building in Kingston that Thomas did, police said.

Reese has been charged with second-degree murder. He was arraigned late Monday afternoon at Kingston city court, where he pleaded "not guilty" and was remanded to the Ulster County Jail without bail, the Daily Freeman reports.

The Daily Star reports that Reese has a valid pistol permit for two handguns, and that police executed a search warrant at his Gilboa home Monday.

Chief Egidio Tinti of the Kingston Police Department told the Watershed Post on Monday morning that the suspect was taken into custody quickly.

"We have detectives and investigators at the scene," he said, speaking around 9:30 a.m. "It is not an ongoing incident. It was isolated and secured this morning."

In a written public statement issued around 1 p.m. on Monday, DEP commissioner Carter Strickland expressed shock and sorrow at the shooting.

“We are shocked and saddened by the senseless act of violence that occurred early this morning at DEP’s offices in Kingston, N.Y. The thoughts and prayers of all DEP employees are with the victim’s family and loved ones. We will do all we can to support them in the days and months ahead. DEP is fully cooperating with local authorities in their ongoing investigation. Grief counselors will be made available to help DEP employees who have been affected by this tragedy.”

Also assisting in the investigation, along with Kingston police, are the Ulster County District Attorney's office, the New York State Police, and the DEP police.