BY JEFF CHUDZINSKI
North Country This Week

POTSDAM — Police were still searching for the murder weapon Monday, but the Massena man charged in the Feb. 18 murder of a Crane School of Music student is set to appear in Potsdam Town Court on Friday, Feb. 25.

Michael Snow, 31, is to appear for a preliminary trial on one count of second-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of Elizabeth Howell.

He is being represented by the St. Lawrence County Public Defender’s office and was being held in St. Lawrence County Correctional Facility in Canton. The public defender’s office provided no comment on the matter and refused to disclose which attorney would be representing Snow.

No motive has been given for the homicide, according to police.

Howell, of Patterson, was found on College Park Road near SUNY Potsdam with multiple gunshot wounds shortly before 6 p.m.

Witnesses say the shots came from a gray sedan that was passing by, presumed to be driven by Snow, according to previous reports.

Potsdam police attempted life-saving measures on scene before Potsdam EMS arrived to continue. Howell was transported to Canton-Potsdam Hospital where she was pronounced dead around 7 p.m., according to previous reports.

State police, with support from Massena police and Homeland Security Investigations, served a warrant and entered Snow’s home with a door ram and flash bangs before taking him into custody without further incident on Feb. 19, according to reports.

Howell’s father believes the incident was a random attack, but county District Attorney Gary Pasqua said the murder is still under investigation and has not ruled anything out yet. He could not provide comment on whether the murder weapon had been located yet on Tuesday.

“She was the type of person that didn’t have enemies, and certainly no one that would want to kill her. As soon as they told us, we figured wrong place, wrong time,” said Howell’s father, Joe Howell, in an interview with the New York Post.

Shortly after the incident, SUNY officials issued a shelter-in-place order for students, according to SUNY officials. The order was lifted later that evening.

Students were urged to travel in groups and to report any suspicious activity to campus police or to call 911 immediately, officials say.

SUNY officials also sought to address rumors surrounding Snow’s affiliation with the university shortly after his arrest.

“SUNY Potsdam can confirm that Mr. Snow has no affiliation with the College, either as a student, employee or graduate,” said Alexandra Jacobs Wilke, director of public relations at the college.

All SUNY Potsdam classes were canceled for Monday, Feb. 21, to allow students, faculty and staff space “to process the trauma, to support one another, and to remember Beth,” said Dr. Phil Neisser, officer in charge at SUNY Potsdam.

Counseling resources are available to those in need, a dedicated memorial space is open on campus and safety escorts are available to students who request them.

“The Hosmer Hall lobby remains open as our dedicated memorial space, for all who wish to remember Beth and reflect on her life. Campus community members continue to fill the Hosmer Gallery area with flowers and mementos, and we invite everyone to sign and post a card with your thoughts and condolences, which we hope to ultimately share with her family,” officials said in a statement.

A musical reading session is planned for Wednesday, Feb. 23 in honor of Howell, with a gathering in the Hosmer lobby memorial space, according to officials.

School officials said the university will fly flags at half staff in memory of Howell throughout the week.

Potsdam and state police are asking village residents and business owners to check security camera footage for information about a vehicle Snow was suspected of driving the day of the homicide.

“On the date of the homicide, Snow was observed operating the below pictured vehicle, a gray Honda Civic bearing NY registration KVE2731. The vehicle has damage to the driver's side door. The investigation has determined that the vehicle passed through Potsdam, Hopkinton, Malone, Westville, Hogansburg and Massena between 5 p.m and 8:30 p.m. on February 18. Anyone who may have seen Snow and the vehicle during these times is asked to contact the New York State Police Troop B Communications at (518) 873-2750,” Potsdam police say.

Rumors have been swirling on social media that the incident has some connection to the recent arrest of Jeffrey Howell who was charged with robbing a Massena bank recently, but Pasqua says they have no validity. He also said the rumors about the two being roommates were unfounded.

The homicide investigation is still continuing.