Pillar Point man charged with attempted murder in Tuesday’s shooting, fire

PILLAR POINT, New York (WWNY) - A Pillar Point resident is facing an attempted murder charge after he allegedly shot at law enforcement officers when they arrived at his home Tuesday.

Jefferson County Sheriff Peter Barnett says that a deputy and state trooper responded to 23378 County Route 59 in the town of Brownville around 6 p.m. to check on the welfare of someone who lived there.

The resident, later identified as 45-year-old Nathan Krump, allegedly brandished a weapon and fired one round toward the deputy.

Court papers say Krump yelled to police, “You’re going to get killed. Get off my property.” (See more about what police said in statements here.)

More shots followed.

“It was very chaotic to begin with. Shots fired in all different directions...going door to door, and getting the neighbors in the close proximity out of the area. And then when the gunshots started, moving more people farther distance away...We’re very, very lucky that everyone came out of this alive”

Krump allegedly went back into the home and the officers retreated to a safe spot to wait for backup.

The police officers’ statements say, “We began hearing gunshots and could hear the bullets whizzing past us.”

They called for backup. More officers arrived and brought in an armored vehicle and involved Watertown police, sheriff’s deputies, and state troopers. Police later realized there was a bullet hole in the windshield of a state trooper’s car.

While police were fired upon, no officer fired back.

Sheriff Barnett says officers didn’t get a clear shot and he would have had to give the command, which he was never asked to give. Barnett says he’s very proud of officers’ restraint.

Police blocked off the road and the neighborhood was evacuated.

“Each step is methodical. Let’s make sure that when we move, it’s right and we don’t make any mistakes,” said Barnett.

Word quickly spread around Pillar Point about what was happening.

“All of a sudden you go from a resting posture to a defensive one. Your senses are sharpened and you just try to be ready for whatever,” said neighbor Richard Dodge.

Authorities set up a perimeter and members of the sheriff’s office and the Watertown Police Department tried to communicate with Krump.

A fire started and the house was quickly engulfed. Police said Krump tried to get away by riding a tractor. He was tased and taken into custody at around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Krump was charged with first-degree attempted murder. He was jailed without bail following his arraignment in Watertown city court Wednesday morning.

Four members of the sheriff’s office were taken to Samaritan Medical Center for evaluation.

We know one deputy was hit by the tractor Krump allegedly used to allegedly flee the scene.

Another sprained his ankle while running under gunfire to evacuate a neighboring home.

The investigation by the sheriff’s office, state police, and country district attorney’s office is ongoing. Police say more charges are pending.

Also assisting were the Watertown Police Department, county Fire and Emergency Management, the 911 dispatch center, county fire investigators, Samaritan Medical Center, and fire departments from Brownville, Sackets Harbor, Glen Park, Chaumont, town of Watertown, Three Mile Bay, Black River, and Northpole.

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