On Sunday January 11th at approximately 9:20pm Elmira Police were dispatched to Centertown Parking Garage for the report of a possible shooting.

Police say officers arrived on scene to find one person had been shot. The victim was taken from the scene to an area hospital for treatment. The victim’s status and identity are not being released at this time. This did not appear to be a random act.

The Elmira Police Department is actively investigating this incident and anyone with information about the incident is requested to call the Elmira Police Department at (607) 737-5626 or leave a message on the anonymous tip line at (607) 271-HALT.

And people are expected to feel safe or good using the parking garages ?! I used it two days in a row… never again, for Any reason!

Earlier this morning police identified the shooting victim as 46 year old Elmira resident Joshua A. Tappan. Police say Tappan is currently listed in critical condition at an area hospital. No further information was released.

UPDATE: The Elmira Police Department has announced that the victim, Joshua A. Tappan, has died as a result of the injuries he received on the night of January 11th 2026. The Elmira Police Department would like to reiterate that this does not appear to be a random act and there does not seem to be a threat to the general public at this time.

UPDATE: The Elmira Police Department has arrested 21 year old Jacob P. Chavez of San Marcos California for the January 11th murder of Joshua A. Tappan.

Police say this arrest is the result of an extensive investigation conducted by Elmira Police Investigators.

The Elmira Police Department thanked the San Diego CA. Harbor Police, Oceanside Ca. Police Department, the FBI, the United States Marshall Service, the Chemung County Sheriff’s Office, the New York State Police, the Monroe County Crime Analysis Center and the Southern Tier Crime Analysis Center for their assistance in this investigation.

The Elmira Police Department is still actively investigating this incident and anyone with information about the incident is requested to call the Elmira Police Department at (607) 737-5626 or leave a message on the anonymous tip line at (607) 271-HALT.