The judge in the SUNY Morrisville shooting incident granted an order of protection and is considering whether or not to lower one of the accused’s bail while the search continues for the second defendant.
Kido Simon, 19, of Winter Haven, FL, stood before Judge Michael St. Leger on June 3 in the Madison County Courthouse in Wampsville for his alleged role in the shooting incident. Simon is charged with second-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault, second-degree assault, two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, and first-degree criminal use of a firearm in connection to a shooting incident in 2025.
At around 3:45 p.m. on Nov. 3, 2025, New York State Police, University Police at SUNY Morrisville, and members of the Madison County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a person shot at South Hall on the SUNY Morrisville campus.
Upon arrival, troopers located a 20-year-old male with a gunshot wound to the neck. The victim, who was not a student at SUNY Morrisville, was transported to Upstate Medical Hospital for emergency surgery for treatment of his injuries, authorities said at the time.
The co-defendant, who has not been identified by law enforcement, has yet to be arrested, according to a statement from the Madison County District Attorney’s Office.
Simon is currently being held at the Madison County Jail after bail was set by Judge Rhonda Youngs, in the amount of $1,000,000 cash, $1,500,000 bond, and $2,000,000 partially unsecured bond.
Protective order
Simon was before Judge Michael St. Leger on June 3 in regards to the prosecution’s motion for a protective order.
Madison County District Attorney Robert Mascari said before the judge the purpose of the protective order was to provide “…complete and total full discovery to the defense, at the same time recognizing that a co-defendant is still at large and that there are certain student and visitor witnesses of SUNY Morrisville who we feel a need to protect.”
The protective order would give evidence that is required under New York state discovery laws, but would redact the names of the witnesses. Mascari said in court the reason for the protective order had already been spoken to with the judge, but did not say the reason in open court as to “…not put it on the record.”
This measure would only be in place while the second defendant, whose name has yet to be released, was arrested and in custody.
This is to provide complete discovery, from testimony to body-worn camera. Defense Attorney Lauren Monforte agreed to the protective order, with the stipulation to revisit it when the co-defendant was in custody.
St. Leger granted the protective order and signed it.
Looking at bail
On the subject of Kido’s bail, Monforte requested that Kido’s bail be lowered to $250,000 cash, $500,000 bond, or $500,000 partially unsecured bond.
“At the defendant’s arraignment, it was characterized that his actions, following these alleged events, constituted flight,” Monforte said. “I think you can look at his actions through a different light. Kido was afraid his life was in danger and returned home. After he returned home, his house was shot up and his mother lost her job. She decided to move her family to Florida and being a 19-year-old kid, he went with his family.”
Besides moving to Florida, Monforte said that Kido’s father, who lived in Trinidad died. Kido went on to get his passport, went to Trinidad, and attended his father’s funeral before returning to Florida.
“And while in Florida, he got a speeding ticket. At no point, during any of his travels, did anyone say that he was the subject of an investigation or that there was a warrant out for his arrest,” Monforte said.
St. Leger asked Monforte where Kido would be if he made bail, to which the defense attorney said that Kido would stay with his grandmother in New York City. Additionally, Monforte said that letters of support from the friends and family of Kido had been submitted for the judge’s position.
When asked for the people’s position, Mascari acknowledged the letters of support.
“There’s a great deal of family and friend support for Mr. Simon,” Mascari said. “I don’t doubt that for a second. But the people would be opposed to any bail reduction that would allow him to leave the jurisdiction.”
The district attorney went on to say Simon’s actions speak to a flight risk, saying that after the SUNY Morrisville shooting incident, Simon and the co-defendant went to Utica to board a train.
“His immediate response was not to cooperate with police. And nobody’s under any obligation to do that. But his immediate response was to get away. And I think [the prosecution] has indisputable proof that at the time they were getting away, they went one way to Utica while the police were arriving in force another way,” Mascari said. “It’s a strong evidence of a flight risk.”
St. Leger said he would review the letters submitted and expected Simon to back in court on June 16 at 11 a.m.
Letters of support
After court was adjourned, Mascari was asked about the letters to Simon’s character and his opinion.
“Every once and a while, we run into defendants I could probably categorize as evil. I categorize Kido Simon as someone who got involved in a very bad thing that could have been worse,” Mascari said. “I accept that he’s loved and supported by his family and that’s a great thing, but sometimes, it’s the crime itself that defines the outcome and sometimes its the defendant and their background.”
“Someone could have easily died and would have died without immediate medical attention,” Mascari said.
According to the district attorney, the bullet that struck the unnamed 20-year-old in 2025 was millimeters from being fatal.
This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Accused teen in SUNY Morrisville shooting before judge
Reporting by Casey Pritchard, Utica Observer Dispatch / Observer-Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Casey Pritchard, Utica Observer Dispatch | USA TODAY Network
