A family in Chenango County is safe after a shooting in the town of Pitcher on Thursday night. Police said a man opened fire on residents and officers at the scene. Our Melissa Kakareka has the details.

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PITCHER, N.Y. -- Police say Patrick Ford II, 42, was driving with his son, 9, on Thursday night when he hit a mailbox on Route 23 and became entangled in a guide wire of a utility pole.

Residents on Route 23 say that when Ford exited his vehicle he quickly became violent.

"He rolled out of the truck and told everybody to run for the high hills," said eyewitness and relative, Garry Standish Sr.

According to authorities, Ford held a gun to the head of a male resident at the home where he hit the mailbox. They say several residents at the property barricaded themselves inside a bedroom, but Ford smashed the window causing the family to run to a nearby relative's home for safety. Police say Ford opened fire.

"The residents contacted the Chenango County Sheriff's Dispatch Center relaying the information of shots being fired which were forwarded onto the responding officers," said Chenango County Sheriff Ernest Cutting Jr.

When deputies arrived, they directed Ford's child to come to them and he did.
The suspect then turned his gun on police and a shootout occurred between the two.
A deputy shot Ford in the upper torso. He was taken to Upstate University Hospital where he remains in intensive care.

"As soon as he was advancing toward them with his weapon pointed toward them, they took what they felt were the measures they need to keep the incident from spiraling more out of control," said the Sheriff.

Authorities say they are waiting until they receive more information to charge Ford.

"We're going to wait until the investigation is completed by various departments, we are going to receive that information and digest that information and take appropriate action when that investigation is complete," explained Joseph McBride, Chenango County District Attorney.

As for now, authorities say the investigation is still ongoing.