Utica, NY On November 14, 2025, Darius Steward (32) was sentenced to twenty years to life in state prison in Oneida County Court after pleading guilty to one count of Murder in the Second Degree for the shooting death of Omar Mitchell (33) on April 22, 2025.
On April 22, 2025, at 11:41 PM Utica Police responded to a “ShotSpotter” alert in the area of Walker Street. A vehicle was seen fleeing from the area arriving at Wynn hospital carrying Mitchell who was suffering from multiple gun shot wounds. Mitchell succumbed to his injures.
An investigation led by investigators with the Utica Police Department Major Crimes Unit assisted by members of the District Attorney’s Office determined that Steward and Mitchell had been involved in a confrontation that escalated into violence in the area of Walker Street near Kemble Street. Steward shot Mitchell several times with a firearm. The investigation resulted in a sealed indictment rising on April 29, 2025, charging Steward with Murder in the Second Degree and Criminal possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree.
Steward was extradited from the State of Illinois with assistance from the U.S. Marshall Service and Oneida County Sherriff’s Office.
Steward will be remanded to the custody of the New York State Department of Corrections to begin serving the sentence immediately.
The case was prosecuted by Nicholas T. Fletcher, Bureau Chief of Gun Involved Violence Elimination and Community Outreach.
Darius Steward sentenced to 20 years to life in prison for Murder
