Man hit by car in Schenectady charged with firing shots

PHOTOGRAPHER: Michael Lamendola

A 26-year-old man faces a felony charge of possessing and firing a handgun Monday afternoon on Grant Avenue, city police said.

Alonzo J. Mosher of Schenectady, who was later struck by a car on Grant Avenue, was charged with criminal possession of a weapon, a silver 9-millimeter handgun.

City Court documents said Mosher fired the handgun in front of 801 Grant Ave. at 1:12 p.m. Mosher was arraigned at 9:45 p.m. Monday at Ellis Hospital and is in the Schenectady County jail.

Police are continuing to sort out what happened on Grant Avenue.

“We are not sure of the circumstances. We are not sure if he was firing at the vehicle that struck him,” said city police spokesman Lt. Brian Kilcullen.

The driver of the vehicle, Wendy Toomer, has not been charged, Kilcullen said, but police are continuing their investigation of the accident. They are treating the accident and Mosher’s firing of the weapon as separate investigations, he said.

A witness said Mosher and another man fought on Hulett Street, then moved to Grant Avenue and out of her sight. She then heard gunshots, and when she went to see what happened, she saw Mosher on the ground. He attempted to stand up, but collapsed. The ground was littered with shell casings and broken windshield glass.

Police stopped Toomer’s vehicle on Albany Street near Craig Street. The vehicle had a smashed windshield.

Three years ago, Mosher was charged with harassment and assault. In 2000, he was hit by a bullet in the wrist as he rode in the back seat of a vehicle. Police said someone fired “double-digit” rounds at the vehicle, causing no serious injuries or deaths to the occupants. The shooting occurred near the intersection of Schenectady and Hamilton streets.