Third suspect identified in Gloversville shooting

PHOTOGRAPHER: Bethany Bump

After identifying a third suspect in the Aug. 22 shooting of a man behind Naif’s Grocery on North Main Street, Gloversville has a “quieter atmosphere,” said Gloversville Police Capt. Donald VanDeusen.

Edwin J. Pastor, 26, of East Avenue, Johnstown, was arrested on a parole violation and remains in the Fulton County jail along with the two other suspects in the shooting, Codie Hayward and Louis Robinson.

“All three were identified as being present and taking part in the robbery and shooting,” VanDeusen said.

Amsterdam resident David Ortiz was shot in the face Aug. 22 in the parking lot of Naif’s Grocery. He survived the daytime attack, but the apparent robbery attempt left city residents on edge after a shooting two weeks prior and a stabbing in early August.

During the attack, the suspects took cash and jewelry from Ortiz, VanDeusen said.

Hayward himself was shot in the early morning hours of Aug. 12. Police found him lying about 100 yards from his Littauer Place residence at the intersection of East Fulton Street and Littauer Place with three gunshot wounds. He survived the shooting, as well as one to the face four years ago during a street brawl.

Police have identified Hayward’s shooter, but are not releasing his name as they have not located him yet. The U.S. Marshal’s service is working with city police to track him down, VanDeusen said.

Two parole violators – Brooklyn resident Mustafa Q. Frazier and Amsterdam resident Marvin McLaurin – were arrested late last month on parole warrants and identified as being connected to the Hayward shooting.

Police are unable to release any more information about the two cases or suspects because they are in the hands of a grand jury, VanDeusen said.

Throughout the investigations of the two potentially related shootings, police have said the suspects are all known to each other.