Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
An Onondaga County grand jury ruled that the fatal stabbing of a teenager in Washington Square Park last month could not be prosecuted.
Onondaga County District Attorney Williams Fitzpatrick said on Tuesday that the grand jury ultimately decided that the death of Kevin Cuozzo, 17, was a case of self-defense.
District Attorney Fitzpatrick showed video of the July 16 incident. The video showed Cuozzo approach the would-be victim, Israel Pam, 18, with a handgun in his hand and pistol-whip him.
Fitzpatrick said that, in response, Pam pulled out a legally owned knife and defended himself with it, leaving wounds and killing Cuozzo in the process. The portion of the video that showed the stabbing was not displayed at the Onondaga County District Attorney's Office.
FULL STORY: cnycentral.com/news/local/grand-jury-rules-fatal-stabbing-at-washington-square-park-was-self-defense-kevin-cuozzo-onondaga-county-district-attorney-william-fitzpatrick-syracuse-police-department
An Onondaga County grand jury ruled that the fatal stabbing of a teenager in Washington Square Park last month could not be prosecuted.
Onondaga County District Attorney Williams Fitzpatrick said on Tuesday that the grand jury ultimately decided that the death of Kevin Cuozzo, 17, was a case of self-defense.
District Attorney Fitzpatrick showed video of the July 16 incident. The video showed Cuozzo approach the would-be victim, Israel Pam, 18, with a handgun in his hand and pistol-whip him.
Fitzpatrick said that, in response, Pam pulled out a legally owned knife and defended himself with it, leaving wounds and killing Cuozzo in the process. The portion of the video that showed the stabbing was not displayed at the Onondaga County District Attorney's Office.
FULL STORY: cnycentral.com/news/local/grand-jury-rules-fatal-stabbing-at-washington-square-park-was-self-defense-kevin-cuozzo-onondaga-county-district-attorney-william-fitzpatrick-syracuse-police-department
