Amsterdam man charged in shooting incident

PHOTOGRAPHER: Edward Munger Jr.

Police said gunshots were fired on Union Street in the city Monday where witnesses told police somebody standing in a crowd fired back at a car after a drive-by shooting.

No injuries were reported following the 9:40 p.m. incident that led to the arrest of a Union Street resident, according to a release from the Amsterdam Police Department.

Raul Vasquez, 21, also known as “chicken,” of 18 Union St., was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, second-degree menacing and other charges unrelated to the shooting, according to police.

Police said less-than-cooperative witnesses told police a late model, dark vehicle drove by a group of people on Union Street when a man fired a gun in their direction.

Police believe, from interviews with witnesses, that somebody in the crowd then fired shots back at the vehicle as it sped off.

A disturbance call on Brookside Avenue later in the evening led police to Vasquez.

Police were told people were seen carrying guns on Brookside Avenue, and they allege Vasquez was found carrying a .22 caliber ammunition and a pistol.

Police said investigators learned Vasquez gave officers a false name during an Aug. 11 arrest on Union Street involving a BB gun.

Vasquez was additionally charged with second-degree forgery and false personation.