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At about 5:50 p.m. on Friday, Feb.18, police in Potsdam, New York, located in St. Lawrence County, responded to a report of an unconscious female on College Park Road near the entrance to SUNY Potsdam.
Responding patrols located the 21-year-old victim, now identified as Putnam County resident Elizabeth Howell, of Patterson, lying on the side of the road with gunshot wounds, according to state police.
She was transported to Canton Potsdam Hospital where she was pronounced dead.
Howell was a senior at SUNY Potsdam enrolled in the college's Crane School of Music, the school said.
State Police have announced that 31-year-old Michael J. Snow, of Massena, New York, also in St. Lawrence County, has been charged with one count of second-degree murder in connection to the case.
He was arraigned in the town of Potsdam Court and was remanded to St. Lawrence County Jail with no bail, state police said.
"SUNY Potsdam can confirm that Mr. Snow has no affiliation with the College, either as a student, employee or graduate," the university said in a statement.
"Please hold Beth, along with her family and loved ones, in your thoughts and prayers this evening," SUNY Potsdam said in its statement. "The entire SUNY Potsdam community mourns her loss, and we stand together in unity to remember her."
At the request of the Potsdam Police Department, the state police is leading the investigation.
State Police and Potsdam Police are being assisted by the:
- St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office,
- St. Lawrence County District Attorney’s Office,
- University Police Department at SUNY Potsdam,
- Federal Homeland Security Investigations.
This is a developing story. Check back to Daily Voice for updates.
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