15-Year-Old Adhon Thomas Fatally Shot Outside Upper Onondaga Park Pool

15-Year-Old Adhon Thomas Fatally Shot Outside Upper Onondaga Park Pool

The city of Syracuse is reeling after the tragic shooting death of 15-year-old Adhon Thomas, who was gunned down just outside the Upper Onondaga Park Pool in the Strathmore neighborhood on Tuesday afternoon.

According to Syracuse Police Chief Joseph Cecile, Adhon was shot in the abdomen near the fencing of the public pool shortly after 2 p.m. Emergency responders transported him to Upstate University Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

The shooting triggered an immediate and intense police response. The city’s ShotSpotter system first detected gunfire in the area, followed closely by a 911 call reporting that a male had been shot near the pool. Within an hour, three crime scene investigation vans and over six police units arrived at the scene. Officers quickly cleared the pool and secured the area with police tape, while shocked families and children gathered at a nearby pavilion, many still in disbelief over the violence that had just occurred in a place meant for summer fun and community gathering.

As of Wednesday, no arrests have been made in connection to the shooting, and the suspect remains at large. Police have not recovered the weapon used, and an active investigation is ongoing. Authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward to help bring justice for Adhon and his grieving loved ones.

Kieran Coffey, a spokesperson for the Syracuse Police Department, confirmed the identity of the victim and emphasized that the department is doing everything in its power to investigate the incident thoroughly.

The death of Adhon Thomas has left a deep scar on the Strathmore community and the city at large. Friends, neighbors, and local leaders have expressed sorrow, outrage, and a growing call for stronger action against the gun violence that continues to claim the lives of Syracuse’s youth.

This senseless act has once again ignited conversations about public safety, youth outreach, and the need for collective efforts to prevent violence before it starts.

Adhon Thomas was just 15 years old — a teenager with his whole life ahead of him. Now, his family must face a future without him, and a community must grapple with yet another young life cut far too short.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Syracuse Police Department or submit an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers.

Rest in peace, Adhon. May your memory be a call to action and a light that does not fade.