Elmira Police Department Release – November 2025.
ELMIRA, NY – On Saturday, November 29, 2025, at 6:48 a.m. Officers received a Gun Shot notification on the Raven Gunshot Detection System through Flock. Officers were directed to the area of the 500 block of Franklin Street and responding Officers did locate evidence of a shooting. A residence was struck by at least four rounds. Nobody was injured during this incident and the residents did not provide any further information.
At 7:21 a.m., Officers were dispatched to a residence in the City of Elmira for a welfare check for a female who had not shown up for work. Police spoke with family members of the female and while doing so contacted her ex-boyfriend who advised he was holding the female against her will and that he was responsible for the Franklin Street shooting. He also was said to have made threats to harm the female and law enforcement.
A short time later, it was determined that the female was being held at 111 North Main Street at an apartment within the structure. The Elmira Police Department Crisis Negotiation and SWAT Teams were activated and responded to the location.
At 9:50 a.m., members of the SWAT Team took 32-year-old Robert Kitzi, of Elmira, NY, into custody without incident. The female was also taken into police custody and was tended to by Erway Ambulance as she had injuries sustained from an assault. A search warrant was executed at the apartment at 111 North Main Street and a 9mm handgun was located.
As a result of this investigation, Robert Kitzi has been charged with two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2nd Degree (Class C Felony) and one count of Assault 2nd (Class D Felony). Kitzi is being held pending arraignment.
The Elmira Police Department was assisted at the scene by the New York State Police, Chemung County Sheriff’s Office and Erway Ambulance.
Anyone who has further information is urged to contact the Elmira Police Department at 607-737-5626 or the Tip Line at 271-HALT.
