Utica Police say they have identified a suspect and developed some new information about the city's first homicide of the year. Our Andrew Sorensen has more on the Monday morning shooting police investigators are calling their biggest priority.

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UTICA, N.Y.-- Lenox Avenue was in mourning as the sun rose Monday to the news that 35-year-old MVCC culinary student Jermaine Stubbs was shot and killed.

"He was a nice mellow family guy, everybody liked him. He got along with everybody. I don't understand what's going on," Stubbs' friend Anthony Spratt said on Monday.

Police say Stubbs' death was unrelated, but it is the latest in a series of shots fired incidents in the neighborhood.

"Stop this killing. It's like a war zone out here. It shouldn't be like this," said Spratt.

In a press conference Friday, Utica Police Chief Mark Williams identified 42-year-old Jamal Gadson as a potential suspect in the shooting.

"At around 1:35 a.m., the Utica Police Department responded to the Shots Bar on Varick Street in regards to an argument. When the officers arrived, all the involved parties had fled the area," Williams explained.

Police won't say what the fight was about or how many people were involved, but they do say they believe it lead to the death of Jermaine Stubbs.

"Approximately five minutes later, officers would respond to the 600 block of Lenox Ave. in regards to multiple shots fired," said Williams.

That's where they found Stubbs, who was later pronounced dead at St. Elizabeth's.

Police won't say how Gadson came into the picture, but they believe he is responsible and on the run.

"He has possibly fled the area and is operating a red colored Chrysler Sebring, 2001, two-door vehicle," Williams said.

Police say that car and the handgun used in the murder are proving difficult to trace because they believe both to be unregistered. They also believe Gadson to be armed and possibly dangerous.

Police are asking anyone who may have seen Jamal Gadson to call them at (315) 223-3510.