Man wanted by police found dead in McVean St. home in Utica
-->By: Jennifer Lee
Updated: February 7, 2013
Police have identified the two bodies found in a Utica home on McVean Street. The man found dead is being identified as 37-year-old Jerry McNair, the suspect police were looking for in a shooting incident that happened on Monday.
Police surrounded the home on the 800-block of McVean Street for hours Wednesday night, trying to negotiate with McNair, but had no contact.
That's when officials entered the home and found McNair and 36-year-old Petra Gonzalez dead.
"It looks like the motive was a domestic incident, which spurred the first incident in north Utica," said Lt. Michael Zdanowicz.
The Utica Police were looking for McNair after he reportedly shot his ex-girlfriend in the back of the head in north Utica.
Police say rejection spurred the attack on the 23-year-old victim Monday night at the Parkedge Townhouses.
Officials were looking for his whereabouts. Police got a tip that McNair was hiding out in a house on McVean Street.
After multiple attempts to contact McNair, police entered the home around 9:30 Wednesday night.
That's when they found McNair and Gonzalez dead. The UPD says it appears McNair shot Gonzalez and then turned the gun on himself.
Police say Gonzalez was involved in a romantic relationship with McNair.
"We knew he was desperate. We didn't know what he was capable of," said Lt. Zdanowicz.
Officials say McNair was on a "downward spiral," making suicidal statements to friends.
He was supposed to appear in court Tuesday for pending drug charges. He also had pending sex abuse charges as well.
Police are still waiting for autopsy reports from the medical examiner's office.
Once they get the reports police will be able to get more answers as to the time and manner of death.


