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A tragic situation was narrowly averted on Friday (September 3) by city of Cortland police.
Officers responded to an Arthur Avenue residence on reports of an “out of control” individual who was threatening others with a knife.
When they arrived, 22-year-old Jahmyah Hunnicutt began cursing at them and turned his threats their way.
At one point, he ran back inside and officers began to speak with other residents of the home.
When they heard a loud commotion inside, the group ran together up to Hunnicutt’s room. There, he was raising what appeared to be an assault rifle at them, threatening several times to fire.
Police drew their guns, while the others began to scream that it was only a BB gun in his hands.
Despite a tense standoff, no shots were ultimately fired.
One of the residents then grabbed the toy rifle from Hunnicutt. At that point, he drew a box cutter and advanced on the officers with the blade out.
He would soon comply with orders to drop the weapon, quickly engaging in a physical altercation with another housemate instead.
The officers finally had to use a taser to bring him under control without injury to himself or anyone else.
Hunnicutt was hit with a multitude of charges, but later released due to the state’s bail reform laws.
He will appear in city court on September 22.
