Early on October 8, 2025, Anthony T. Beecham, 53, was found in the driveway of his home at 40 Grove Street in Homer, New York, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. An initial call just before 3:30 a.m. reported a possible cardiac arrest; Village of Homer officers began life-saving measures and he was taken to Guthrie Cortland Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. The Cortland County Sheriff’s Office opened a homicide investigation and reported a dark-colored vehicle was seen speeding away from the scene around the time of the shooting.

Authorities said they believed the incident was isolated as the community followed the investigation. On November 7, 2025, 20-year-old Aaron T. Keem of Freeville was arrested in the Town of Dryden by the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office and charged with second-degree murder; he was indicted by a grand jury and remanded to the Cortland County Jail without bail.

If anyone saw activity near 40 Grove Street on the night of October 7–8 or has information about the dark-colored vehicle, please come forward.