CONKLIN — The Broome County Sheriffโs Office released more details in the investigation into a dispute between family members in a Conklin home that led to a fatal shooting that killed a man and seriously injured a woman on Friday.
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On Friday, January 3, 2025, at approximately 10:35 AM, the Broome County Emergency Dispatch received a 911 report of a shooting incident involving a handgun at 58 Leslie Ave. in the Town of Conklin.
Within minutes, a Broome County Sheriffโs Office deputy and New York State trooper were first to arrive, making contact with three of the homeโs residents outside the house. The deputy and trooper then attempted to enter the house when the suspect, Matthew S. Bartosik, age 21 of Conklin, NY, fired at police with a pistol from inside the residence.
Additional members of the Broome County Sheriffโs Office and New York State Police arrived and immediately mobilized a team to enter the house and take custody of the assailant. Before entry was made, Bartosik responded to verbal commands, exited the house and surrendered to police.
Law enforcement then secured the area and EMS entered the residence to assist two victims suffering gunshot wounds. One of the victims, Michael K. Lewis, age 61 of Conklin, was pronounced deceased at the scene. The other victim, a female family member, was transported to UHS Wilson Medical Center with serious injuries.
During the incident, members of the Broome County Sheriffโs Office were in contact with the local school district and were in the process of issuing a shelter in place order for the surrounding neighborhood when the incident resolved.
Sheriff Fred Akshar said, โOur prayers and condolences go out to the Lewis family and loved ones in the aftermath of this tragedy. I also commend the quick response of our Broome County Sheriffโs Office deputies and our partners with the New York State Police during this rapidly-evolving incident. Thanks to their coordinated efforts and professionalism, this volatile and nightmarish situation was brought to an end in short order.โ
In addition to New York State Police, Broome County Sheriffโs Office deputies were assisted by the Broome Volunteer Emergency Squad.
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Investigators determined that the incident stemmed from an ongoing domestic situation between Bartosik, his uncle, Michael K. Lewis and five other family members living in the three-bedroom home on Leslie Ave.
In November of 2024, Bartosik, his mother and brother had moved in temporarily with Lewis and three other family members.
On December 25, 2024, Broome County Sheriffโs responded to a domestic dispute involving the multiple family members. Bartosik had allegedly gotten into a physical altercation with members of his family who were attempting to take his television and video game console. No charges were filed and a Lethality Assessment Program screening for domestic disputes was declined.
On December 26, 2024, Michael Lewis requested and was granted a no harass order of protection against Bartosik from the Town of Conklin Court, which was served the same day. โNo Harassโ orders of protection differ from โstay awayโ or โno contactโ orders of protection in that the recipient of the โno harassโ order can maintain contact with the protected party but will be subject to additional charges if the crime of harassment or other crimes outlined in the order occurs.
On December 31, 2024, Michael Lewis contacted law enforcement to report a potential order of protection violation, due to Bartosik reportedly engaging in a loud argument with his mother and not wishing to stay in his bedroom. The subsequent investigation determined that no crime or violation of the order had occurred.
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On the day of the shooting, Bartosik had been engaging in another argument with his mother, at which point Lewis and another family member attempted to intervene.
Bartosik then went to another room of the house and returned with a .22 caliber handgun, immediately shooting Lewis in the face. Another family member, the female victim, attempted to intervene and was also shot in the face by Bartosik.
Wounded, both Lewis and the female victim fled to a bedroom as Bartosik pursued, firing multiple rounds at them as they attempted to barricade the door. Lewis sustained additional gunshot wounds to his hand and chest, while the female victim was also shot in the back.
Three of the four other family members present during the shooting fled outside and called 911, while the remaining family member stayed in the basement of the house until police arrived and secured the residence.
Despite life-saving efforts of first responders, Lewis succumbed to his injuries at the scene. The female victim remains hospitalized.
Following the investigation, Matthew S. Bartosik, was charged with the following:
– Murder in the 2nd Degree, a Class A-I Felony
– Attempted Murder in the 1st Degree, a Class A-II Felony
– Attempted Murder in the 2nd Degree, a Class A-II Felony
– Criminal Use of a Firearm in the 1st Degree, a Class B Felony
– Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2nd Degree, a Class C Felony
– Aggravated Criminal Possession of a Weapon, a Class C Felony
– Criminal Contempt in the 1st Degree, a Class E Felony
Bartosik was arraigned at Central Arraignment Part and remanded to the Broome County Correctional Facility.
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Bartosik did not legally possess the murder weapon, and Broome County Sheriffโs Office investigators are working with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to track down how he obtained it.
โI want to once again commend the swift and skillful response of our Sheriffโs patrols, the state police and emergency services, as well as all the hard work our investigators are putting into this case,โ said Sheriff Akshar. โDomestic violence is a very real and reoccurring issue in communities across our nation. In our community, there are resources available and people who want to help. I would urge anyone living in a difficult or potentially dangerous situation to contact law enforcement immediately or on of our several community organizations for help.โ
If you or someone you know is the victim of domestic violence, please do not hesitate to contact the Broome County Sheriffโs Office at 607-778-1911 or the following domestic violence support organizations:
Crime Victims Assistance Center Crisis Line: (607) 722-4256 or text: (607) 725-8196
Rise Domestic Violence Services Hotline: 607-754-4340 or 877-754-4340
