Fear and anger––that’s how many in West Fulton feel after dozens of shots were fired in the hamlet last Saturday night, March 19.
State Police arrested Brian Goodrich, 53, of West Fulton for the shootings several days later, but residents remain on edge.
“Yeah, we’re scared,” one neighbor said. “This is a peaceful and quiet place. That’s why we live here.”
At the same time, however, there’s concern for Mr. Goodrich.
“There’s a weird cocktail of fear and compassion,” said the owner of the Sap Bush Café, one of the businesses hit by bullets.
Troopers said Mr. Goodrich fired shots from his vehicle along West Fulton Road, striking an above-ground pool at a residence and the West Fulton Firehouse.
Further investigation found shots were fired into the self-serve honor store at the Sap Bush Café.
No one was injured in any of the shootings. State Police believe the shots were fired from a hunting rifle.
Kevin MacNeill, who owns the pool and lives in an adjacent house, heard the shots about 11:45pm. He and his family––wife and two daughters––hid behind the chimney “because it was the biggest piece of concrete in the house.”
Replacing the pool will cost $12,000, said Mr. MacNeill, but he’s more concerned about the shots so close to his house.
“About 10 feet from my daughter’s window,” he said.
Worried about safety, Mr. MacNeill moved his family temporarily to Cobleskill last week.
About 10 to 12 bullets hit the firehouse; some went through the front metal wall and out the back metal wall, according to a member of the Fire Commission.
Two trucks were damaged, and the department’s pumper-tanker was out of commission for two days, the commissioner reported.
Also, the firehouse couldn’t be used on Sunday the 20th because it was a crime scene.
Bullets pierced freezers holding meat and other products at the Sap Bush Café. Two freezers are unusable, with damage totaling $23,000, the owner said.
“One customer’s meat was just carnage,” she said.
Nonetheless, the owner added, the café is opening for the season this Saturday.
“We chose to put the store in this community to revitalize it and give it a greater sense of community,” the owner said.
“What happened makes the store even more important.”
State Police did well to calm the community, the café owner added.
“They were compassionate and very concerned for our safety,” she said.
It has been reported that Mr. Goodrich was hospitalized, but District Attorney Susan Mallery would not confirm that.
Troopers first charged Mr. Goodrich with two counts of third-degree criminal mischief, a felony, and having a large capacity ammo feeding device, a misdemeanor.
Mr. Goodrich had two clips holding more than 10 rounds, leading to the large capacity device charge, a State Police spokesperson said.
He was later charged with one count of second-degree criminal mischief, a felony, and another charge of having a large capacity device.
Ms. Mallery said the charges are not eligible for bail under the state’s new bail laws.
About two dozen guns––none of them illegal––were seized from Mr. Goodrich’s home, according to the State Police spokesperson.
There will be a hearing for extreme risk/protection order in Supreme Court in Schoharie on April 8, and Mr. Goodrich is to return to Fulton Town Court on April 6.
Several West Fulton residents contacted for this story, out of concern for their safety, asked that their names not be used.