Details of officer, son shooting emerge

OLD FORGE, N.Y. (WIVB) - Only one shot was fired early Saturday morning at Clark's Beach Motel in Old Forge. That one shot killed 37-year-old Matthew Leach; his own father, Town of Perry police officer, Michael Leach pulled the trigger.

"It's just a horrible tragedy--it's an awful thing that happened," said the motel's owner Dan Rivet.

Rivet is also a first responder; he administered CPR on Matthew Leach, trying to bring the injured man back to life.

"My training kicks in," said Rivet, describing his reaction. "I've been doing ambulance work for 50 years and every effort was being made to save the gentleman's life."

State Police say Michael Leach was sleeping when he was awakened by what he thought was an intruder coming in the room.  He fired once, from his department issued gun, before realizing it was his son.

The motel owner says the gun was either in bed with Leach or next to him while he was sleeping.

Rivet also tells News 4 that when he arrived, the elder Leach was distraught over what had happened.

"Everyone said he was a really nice guy and very close to his son," Rivet added. "It's just hard to understand what could have happened."

Following the shooting, Michael Leach was sent to a central New York hospital for an undisclosed medical issue.

The shooting remains under investigation.