NEW PALTZ, N.Y. (AP) - A 21-year-old Hudson Valley man has been charged with a deadly shooting in a college bar over the weekend that law-enforcement officials say was retaliation for another killing.
Basheem Bennett of Poughkeepsie was arrested Tuesday and charged with second-degree murder and first-degree assault. He’s pleaded not guilty and is being held without bail in Ulster County Jail.
Authorities say 29-year-old Ryan Gray of Poughkeepsie was killed and a 26-year-old woman was wounded by gunfire early Easter morning as the bar was crowded with dozens of patrons. No one else was injured.
New Paltz Police Chief Joseph Snyder says all three knew each other and that investigators believe Gray’s killing was in retaliation for the fatal shooting of Alvin Hayles in Poughkeepsie in November.
Attempts to contact Bennett’s attorney were unsuccessful.
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