Elmira man found guilty of attempted murder

An Elmira man accused of shooting another man on the city's Eastside last summer has been convicted of attempted murder and other charges.

Following a Chemung County Court trial this week, a jury found Joshua Demellier, 26, guilty of second degree attempted murder, first degree criminal use of a firearm, and second- and third-degree assault.

The charges stemmed from a shooting outside 914 Sullivan Street on June 1, 2014. Demellier got involved in a fight with another person at a party and later struck the man in the head with a silver-colored handgun, according to witnesses.

When the man's brother saw him lying on the ground, he ran across the street to his car, chased by Demellier, witnesses said.

Demellier shot the victim through the windshield as he tried to drive away, wounding him in the upper abdomen, according to Assistant District Attorney John Thweatt, who prosecuted the case.

The victim was able to drive a short distance to his father's residence, where he collapsed on the lawn and was taken for immediate medical care, Thweatt said.

Demellier was arrested a week after the shooting following a foot chase with police. He possessed a large caliber revolver, although police did not believe that weapon was connected to the Sullivan Street shooting.

Demellier pleaded guilty April 15 to criminal possession of a weapon in connection with that firearm.

Attorney Kevin Flynn represented Demellier at trial. Chemung County Judge James Hayden set sentencing for May 18.

Attempted murder and criminal use of a firearm are both class B violent felonies that carry a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison. Second-degree assault is punishable by up to seven years in prison. Third-degree assault — stemming from the attack on the shooting victim's brother — is a class A misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail.

Follow Jeff Murray on Twitter @SGJeffMurray.