Murder suspect in Utica's homicide case in police custody in N. Carolina

Utica Police are one step closer in solving the city's first homicide case of the year. Police say the suspect who allegedly shot and killed Jermaine Stubbs of Utica back in July is now in police custody.

According to officials, 42-year-old Jamal Gadson was hiding out at his aunt's house in North Carolina. He's currently being held in that state with no bond.

And now police are in the process of bringing the suspected murderer back to Oneida County.

But, Senior Investigator U.S. Deputy Marshall James Nichols says it's unclear how quickly that will be. 

"If he waives extradition it can be 10 to 14 days but if he fights it and we need a Governor's warrant it can take longer," said Nichols.

Utica Police Chief Mark Williams say it may take months. Nonetheless, the Chief says the arrest of Gadson couldn't have happened without some cooperative law enforcement work.

"Our local U.S. Marshall agent here was in direct contact with the U. S. Marshall's Task Force down there and they apprehended him for us," said Chief Williams.

Police are not releasing information on how Gadson and Stubbs knew each other. But, they say the shooting may have been a result of a fight outside a bar on Varick Street on the night of July 23rd.

Officials say minutes later, Stubbs was shot two blocks away on the 400-block of Lenox Avenue. Gadson is charged with murder in the 2nd degree.