In the summer of 2024, the life of a young Elmira, New York man was abruptly and violently cut short. Zachary T. VanHorn, a 21-year-old White/Caucasian male, was inside a residence on Grove Street on June 20th when he was fatally shot. Emergency services were called to the scene, and VanHorn was rushed to Arnot Ogden Medical Center, but his injuries proved too severe, and he was pronounced dead.
The Elmira Police Department immediately launched a homicide investigation into the shooting
death of Zachary VanHorn. For a week, the community was on edge as law enforcement searched for the person responsible. The investigation involved multiple agencies, including the New York State Police, who worked diligently to follow leads and gather evidence.
Their efforts led them to 27-year-old Marcus A. Jones-Snyder. On June 27, 2024, a week after the fatal shooting, Jones-Snyder was arrested in connection with VanHorn's death. Following his arrest, the case was presented to a Chemung County grand jury.
The grand jury handed down an indictment, formally charging Marcus A. Jones-Snyder with several serious crimes. The charges included second-degree murder and three counts of criminal possession of a weapon. The indictment alleges that Jones-Snyder was in unlawful possession of a loaded handgun, which he used to shoot Zachary VanHorn in the chest, causing his death. If convicted of the murder charge, Jones-Snyder faces the possibility of a lengthy prison sentence, up to 25 years to life.
