In the late evening of Sunday, February 8, 2026, Jonathan Pitts, a 33-year-old male, was fatally shot in Syracuse, New York. The incident occurred at approximately 10:07 p.m. at Playmakers Sports Bar located at 901 Park Avenue. Syracuse Police responded to reports of gunfire in the area, which were also detected by the city's ShotSpotter technology.
Upon arrival, officers found evidence that shots had been exchanged at the sports bar.
Shortly after the police arrived at the scene, Jonathan Pitts was transported to Crouse Hospital by a private vehicle. He had sustained a gunshot wound to the chest. Despite the efforts of the medical staff, Pitts was pronounced dead at the hospital. An obituary described him as a devoted and loving father and a hard worker whose greatest joy was his family. He is survived by his son, step-daughter, the mother of his son, his parents, and several siblings and other relatives.
The Syracuse Police Department's Criminal Investigations Division launched a thorough investigation into the homicide. Detectives conducted numerous interviews, canvassed the neighborhood, executed search warrants, and processed physical evidence. These efforts led them to identify 51-year-old Willie A. Hill Jr. as a suspect in the fatal shooting.
On Saturday, February 21, 2026, thanks to a citizen tip, Willie A. Hill Jr. was located and arrested at the Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York. The Syracuse Police coordinated with the Oneida Indian Nation Police, who took Hill into custody without incident. Hill was subsequently turned over to Syracuse authorities and transported to the Criminal Investigations Division. He has been charged with second-degree criminal possession of a firearm and criminal possession of a weapon. The investigation into the shooting is ongoing.
