John Ray Lawton, 45, was killed by an apparent gunshot wound in Ithaca, New York, on the evening of Wednesday, October 21, 2020. Officers responding to reports of gunfire in the 500 block of West State Street found Lawton deceased. The Ithaca Police Department opened a homicide investigation and asked the public to contact its investigations division or use the city’s anonymous tip line with any information.

No arrests or suspect identities have been released, and authorities have not disclosed a motive or the circumstances that led to the shooting. If anyone has information about John Ray Lawton’s death or witnessed activity on West State Street that evening, please contact the Ithaca Police Department.