The State Troopers PBA is thankful that a Trooper in the greater Binghamton area was not injured in an incident in which a suspect pointed a loaded gun at him. The Trooper was able to fire at the suspect before the suspect shot at him, and the suspect is now hospitalized. State Police later determined the suspect was wanted on a felony warrant. Authorities also determined the Trooper acted appropriately in his actions. Below is an article from the Press & Sun-Bulletin newspaper of Binghamton about the incident.

Trooper acted appropriately in weekend shooting

The condition of an Endicott man wounded by a state trooper this weekend has been upgraded to satisfactory.

Franller Villanueva, 20, had been hospitalized in critical condition Saturday morning after being shot three times in a driveway at 10 Jefferson Ave. in Endicott.

State police said Villanueva had made a threatening move with a loaded semi-automatic handgun before being shot by Trooper Michael Woytach. Villanueva had fled on a bicycle when troopers tried to question him about a report that a man seen on Washington Avenue had a gun.

Woytach acted appropriately during the shooting, which occurred in the driveway of the building where Villanueva rents an apartment, State Police Lt. James Barnes said.

State police later determined that Villanueva was wanted on a felony cocaine-possession warrant issued by an Ulster County judge. Troopers ask that anyone with information about the shooting or the events that led up to it call them at 775-1241.