February 19, 2022, 9:30 p.m.
New York State Police have made an arrest following their investigation of last night’s murder of SUNY Potsdam student Elizabeth Howell ’22.
State Police have charged Michael J. Snow, 31, of Massena, N.Y., with one count of murder in the second degree. He was arraigned in Potsdam Town Court and was remanded to St. Lawrence County Jail, with no bail.
SUNY Potsdam can confirm that Mr. Snow has no affiliation with the College, either as a student, employee or graduate.
Please hold Beth, along with her family and loved ones, in your thoughts and prayers this evening. The entire SUNY Potsdam community mourns her loss, and we stand together in unity to remember her.
We wish to thank all of the law enforcement agencies who have worked so hard on this investigation, including New York State Police, Potsdam Village Police, the St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, SUNY Potsdam University Police, the District Attorney’s Office, and federal Homeland Security.
As a reminder, the College Counseling Center will be offering drop-in support all weekend.
Counselors are available again tomorrow, to meet with students one-on-one or in groups, from 1 to 5 p.m. in the Fireside Lounge in the Barrington Student Union.
We have designated the Hosmer Gallery in the lobby of the Helen M. Hosmer Concert Hall at The Crane School of Music as a memorial space for members of the campus community. All will be welcome to leave flowers or items in her memory and to sign a memorial placard in honor of Beth.
We will plan a vigil and memorial concert in honor of Beth in the coming days and weeks, and will continue to apprise campus of updates.
As a reminder, classes will be canceled on Monday, February 21. A number of previously scheduled campus activities have also been canceled or will be rescheduled. For the latest information, please keep track of the events calendar on our website and on Get Involved.
Please remember that you can also receive support 24/7 from—
Crisis Text Line:
Text Got5 or HOME to 741741
Suicide Hotline:
1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)
1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)
Reachout:
(315) 265-2422
Thank you for your patience through this… our thoughts are with you all.
February 19, 2022, 1:05 p.m.
Message to campus from Officer in Charge, Dr. Phil Neisser ’79
Update: February 19, 2022, 9:52 a.m.
SUNY Potsdam has been advised that we can lift the shelter in place order for campus. The investigation is ongoing, but the preliminary investigation has determined that this appears to be an isolated incident.
Police have also now released the name of the victim, and the family has been notified. We are deeply saddened to share that the victim of last night’s shooting was Elizabeth Howell ’22 of Patterson, N.Y., a music education student at SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music. We mourn Beth’s loss as one campus community, and hold her family, friends, and loved ones in our hearts at this difficult time.
While we struggle to make sense of this tragedy, please support one another and please don’t hesitate to reach out for help if you need it. We must be there for each other as we grieve this tremendous loss.
Classes will be canceled on Monday, February 21, as we work to support each other through this tragedy.
Police are still actively searching for the suspect, who remains at large. Please contact the police with any information that might be relevant or to report any suspicious activity, by calling 911, calling Potsdam Village Police at (315) 265-2121, or University Police at (315) 267-2222.
The College Counseling Center will be offering drop-in support all weekend, and we will follow up shortly with more details.
Please remember that you can also receive support 24/7 from—
Crisis Text Line:
Text Got5 or HOME to 741741
Suicide Hotline:
1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)
1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)
Reachout:
(315) 265-2422
We will continue to share updates with campus via email and will post information to our website, http://www.potsdam.edu.
Update: February 19, 2022, 12:04 a.m.
New York State Police are now reporting that the victim of tonight's shooting near the SUNY Potsdam campus has died. Potsdam Village Police were called with a report of a shooting on College Park Road around 5:51 p.m., and found a 21-year-old young woman at the scene. She was rushed to Canton-Potsdam Hospital but succumbed to her injuries, and was pronounced dead shortly before 7 p.m.
We will share more information when the victim's identity is confirmed by police. In the meantime, please hold their family, friends and loved ones in your thoughts and prayers.
The suspect is still at large. Local police agencies are continuing to ask members of the public in both St. Lawrence County and neighboring Franklin County to be vigilant, as there may still be an active threat to the community. Lock your doors, and report any suspicious activity.
Please contact the police with any information that might be relevant or to report any suspicious activity, by calling 911, calling Potsdam Village Police at (315) 265-2121, or University Police at (315) 267-2222.
New York State Police and Potsdam Village Police are being assisted in their investigation by the St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, the District Attorney’s Office, SUNY Potsdam University Police, and federal Homeland Security.
We realize that this tragic news is deeply distressing. The College Counseling Center will be mobilizing efforts to offer drop-in support this weekend, and in the meantime, please don't hesitate to reach out to one of the 24-hour crisis lines on call:
Crisis Text Line:
Text Got5 or HOME to 741741
Suicide Hotline:
1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)
1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)
Reachout:
(315) 265-2422
We will continue to share official updates via Potsdam Rave Alert, campus email, and on our website, http://www.potsdam.edu.
Update: February 18, 2022, 9:45 p.m.
Police have not yet located the suspect in tonight's shooting near campus. However, we have been advised that students may return to their residences at this time, if they choose to do so. Please take caution and travel in groups. Report any suspicious activity to law enforcement.
You can request an escort from University Police or assistance from campus officials, but please be prepared to wait for help, due to large call volumes.
If you have any information to report, please call 911, contact Village Police at (315) 265-2121, or call University Police at (315) 267-2222.
New York State Police is on the scene and is now leading this active investigation. We do not have any further information at this time about the victim or the suspect. As soon as we have more information to share, we will update campus.
Remember that official information will be shared via Potsdam Rave Alert and on our website, http://www.potsdam.edu.
We know tonight's news is distressing and we appreciate your patience and your empathy as we wait to find out more about this incident.
Posted: February 18, 2022, 7:19 p.m.
SUNY Potsdam Alert:
Potsdam Village Police have received report of shots fired near campus, and are responding. Law enforcement agencies are still seeking the suspect. One victim has been transported to the hospital.
Shelter in place until further notice.
If you have any information to report, please call 911, contact Village Police at (315) 265-2121, or call University Police at (315) 267-2222.
If you encounter a shooter, remember to:
RUN (AVOID): Seek an escape route ASAP. Get down if possible and leave belongings behind. The more distance and barriers between you and a threat, the better.
HIDE (DENY): Shelter out of shooter's view. Lock and block doors, stay away from windows. Turn out lights. Stay quiet and silence phones until you get the all-clear.
FIGHT (DEFEND): Be prepared to defend yourself as a last resort if your life is in imminent danger. Act decisively with aggression to incapacitate. Do not fight fairly - this is about survival.
Follow instructions from law enforcement and report any suspicious activity when it is safe to do so.
You can text tips silently to police on the Rave Guardian campus safety app.
Updates will be sent via the Potsdam Rave Alert system and will be posted on http://www.potsdam.edu.
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