In the summer of 2018, the life of 45-year-old Charlie Andrus of Seneca Falls, a flooring installer and father, was tragically cut short. On July 10th, Andrus was shot and killed in Waterloo, New York. The male victim was not the only person targeted in this violent encounter. Fifty-three-year-old Lori McConnell also lost her life, and another woman, Karen Zdunko, was shot but fortunately survived her injuries.
The incident was the result of a violent ambush orchestrated by Emerson
Tohafjian of Waterloo. Investigators quickly identified Tohafjian as the suspect, and he was apprehended at a campground in Phelps. It was revealed that Tohafjian had a history of violence directed towards his ex-girlfriend, Lori McConnell. Prior to the fatal shooting, he had been arrested on two separate occasions for acts of violence against her, and courts had issued orders of protection which he violated.
In the aftermath of the deadly shooting, the community mourned the loss of Charlie Andrus, who was remembered as a man who enjoyed hunting and cherished time spent with his family and friends. He left behind two sons, his mother and stepfather, and a brother.
The legal process that followed brought a measure of justice for the victims and their families. In December 2018, a jury found Emerson Tohafjian guilty of the double murder of Charlie Andrus and Lori McConnell. For his crimes, Tohafjian faced the possibility of a life sentence in prison.
