ELLENVILLE – An argument among a group of people turned violent this past Tuesday evening when Alex Jorge, 24, of Lundy Road in Wawarsing was shot in the back of the neck by a male assailant during an altercation at Berme Road Park.

At approximately 9:30 p. m. on Tuesday evening, Ellenville police and rescue units responded to a call about a shooting victim at 143 Center Street, where they found Jorge. He was immediately treated by Ellenville rescue workers, and later flown by a med-evac helicopter to Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla where he remains in serious-but-stable condition.

The shooter, however, remains at large, though Ellenville Police Chief Phil Mattracion said that they have a good idea of who the assailant is.

"We're confident we're looking in the right direction," Mattracion said Wednesday.

The cause of the argument remains unclear, according to Mattracion; however, police have been able to put together a preliminary timeline of events.

According to Mattracion, an argument broke out between the shooting suspect and Jose Navio, 32, of Ellenville, sometime just before 9:30 p.m. Navio then produced a weapon and fired two shots into the air. Shortly thereafter, Navio's brother, Jorge, pulled up in his car to persuade Navio to leave. Navio refused, and Jorge began to drive away. At this point the assailant fired two shots into the back window of Jorge's vehicle, with one of the bullets striking Jorge in the neck. Jorge then drove around the corner to Center Street, where members of his family called 911.

After having reached the scene, Ellenville police, with the assistance of the State Police Bureau of Criminal investigation and Ulster County Sheriff canine units, proceeded to secure the area in which the shots were fired, recovering several shell casings.

The state police also impounded Jorge's car and turned it over to a state forensics team, who are currently in the process of examining vehicle.

On Wednesday morning, Chief Mattracion, Sergeant Jeff Van Asselt, and Officer Crystal Morse of the Ellenville Police Department conducted a search of the upper portion of Berme Road Park to look for one of the weapons. As of press time, police confirmed that they had indeed recovered one of the weapons in question; however it was unclear which of the guns it was they found. It was also unclear as to whether or not Navio might face charges.

It is ironic — and somewhat troubling — that a shooting should take place in this location, given that there are plans to build a new playground at Berme Road Park. When asked, Chief Mattracion stated that the April crime rate in the village is higher than it was at this time last year.

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