Campus Alert Archive
SUNY Plattsburgh

Shots Fired Near 137 Cornelia: SUNY Plattsburgh's Pre-Dawn Off-Campus Homicide Alert

NYshootingemergency notificationmedium confidence
Confirmed Threat

Just after 2:23 a.m. EDT on September 3, 2024, Plattsburgh City Police responded to a shooting near 137 Cornelia Street — within blocks of the SUNY Plattsburgh campus — in which a victim was fatally shot. SUNY Plattsburgh University Police pushed an emergency NY-Alert about shots fired off campus, and the nearby UVM Health Network CVPH hospital was placed on a precautionary lockdown. Two suspects were taken into custody by 7:30 a.m. EDT.

Alerts
2
Response
—
Killed
1
Injured
0
Institution
State University of New York at Plattsburgh
Public Bachelors · NY
~4,800 studentsNY-Alert
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

2 messages in sequence

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTSMS
Approximate reconstruction267 chars
SUNY Plattsburgh Alert: Plattsburgh City Police are investigating a report of shots fired in the vicinity of 137 Cornelia Street, off campus. Suspects are not in custody at this time. Avoid the area. Shelter indoors. University Police are on scene. Updates to follow.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed from NCPR and WCAX reporting that SUNY Plattsburgh University Police pushed an NY-Alert immediately after the 2:23 AM EDT 911 call about shots fired near 137 Cornelia Street
Cornelia Street runs along the southern edge of the SUNY Plattsburgh campus, and University Police treat off-campus violence in the immediate corridor as Clery 'emergency notification' territory
The UVM Health Network CVPH hospital, less than half a mile from the shooting scene, was placed on lockdown as a precaution
ALL CLEARSMS
Approximate reconstruction333 chars
SUNY Plattsburgh Alert: All-clear. The suspects in this morning's off-campus shooting on Cornelia Street are in custody. Plattsburgh City Police, University Police, and Tri-County SRT have concluded operations. There is no continuing threat to the campus or community. Counseling services are available through the Counseling Center.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed from the City of Plattsburgh Police news release noting Tri-County SRT, Plattsburgh City Police, and New York State Police took both suspects into custody around 7:30 AM EDT after a brief negotiation
Tri-County SRT is comprised of members of the Clinton, Essex, and Franklin County Sheriff's Departments
Context

Background

Cornelia Street is the main commercial corridor at the southern edge of the SUNY Plattsburgh campus, lined with student housing and businesses. At 2:23 AM EDT on September 3, 2024, Plattsburgh City Police responded to a shooting near 137 Cornelia Street — between the campus and downtown. The victim was transported to UVM Health Network CVPH and pronounced dead. SUNY Plattsburgh University Police pushed an NY-Alert and the hospital was placed on a precautionary lockdown. By 7:30 AM EDT, Tri-County SRT, Plattsburgh City Police, and New York State Police had located and surrounded the suspects at Pioneer Motel in Beekmantown, taking them into custody after a brief negotiation. The victim was identified as Markus (Marcus) Dixon, 31, of Plattsburgh. Chazz E. Johnson, 24, was charged with second-degree murder; Erica Colon, 21, with second-degree conspiracy. The case illustrates how Clery emergency notifications extend beyond strict campus boundaries when off-campus violence occurs in a corridor immediately adjacent to student housing.
Outcome
The victim, Markus (Marcus) Dixon, 31, of Plattsburgh, was pronounced dead at CVPH. Chazz E. Johnson, 24, was charged with second-degree murder, second-degree conspiracy and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon; Erica Colon, 21, was charged with second-degree conspiracy and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Both were taken into custody by approximately 7:30 AM EDT.
Provenance

Sources

  1. Official
    Shooting Investigation on 09/03/2024 (City of Plattsburgh Police Department)
    cityofplattsburgh-ny.gov
  2. Official
    Update re: Shooting Investigation on 09/03/2024 (City of Plattsburgh Police)
    cityofplattsburgh-ny.gov
  3. News
    Two people to be charged in fatal Plattsburgh shooting (NCPR)
    northcountrypublicradio.org
  4. News
    Plattsburgh Police investigate and arrest suspects in early morning homicide (WAMC)
    wamc.org
  5. News
    Plattsburgh City Police investigating shooting (Press-Republican)
    pressrepublican.com
Tags
shootinghomicideoff-campusshelter-in-placeny-alertplattsburghnew-yorkpublic-bachelorscornelia-street
Added May 2026Updated May 2026Via ingestion