A violent altercation on the evening of June 24, 2024, in Syracuse ended with the death of 42-year-old Sidney Emuel Comrie, a Black/African American man. Officers responding about 8:22 p.m. to the 100 block of West Calthrop Avenue found Comrie with multiple gunshot wounds. He received emergency aid and was transported to Upstate University Hospital, where he later died.

Detectives from the Criminal Investigations Division and the Homicide Unit conducted interviews and executed search warrants as part of the inquiry. Investigators identified 32-year-old Dashontay Kirkland as the suspect; Kirkland surrendered on June 27, 2024, and was arrested on charges of second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He was held at the Onondaga County Justice Center pending arraignment.

Comrie was born July 16, 1981, in Queens and had moved to Syracuse to be near his sons and seek work. He is survived by his mother, his three children Xavier, Nehemiah, and infant daughter Seoni, and two sisters. Anyone with information is asked to contact investigators.