Oneida Police Department Makes Arrest Following Reported Armed Robbery

Authorized by: Steven Lowell, Chief of Police

Date: July 3rd, 2026

ONEIDA, NY – On July 2, 2026, at approximately 4:35 p.m., members of the Oneida Police Department were alerted to a reported robbery involving a handgun that had just occurred at the Delta Deli on Madison Street.

Officers were already in the area handling an unrelated call when they were flagged down and advised of the incident. The victim reported that a male wearing a mask entered the store and stole merchandise. As the male was pursued, the subject allegedly turned around, pointed a black object which appeared to be a handgun, and threatened to shoot the pursuers.

Officers located the suspect, identified as Gavin Becraft, approximately one block from the store. At the time he was located, Becraft was found to be in possession of a black mask, a stun gun-type device, and the stolen merchandise. Becraft was also found to be in possession of a quantity of methamphetamine and fentanyl.

Becraft was arrested and charged with the following offenses:

· Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a felony

· Two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree

· Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance

· Larceny

· Two counts of Burglary, felonies

· Menacing

Becraft was transported for centralized arraignment and was remanded in lieu of $25,000 cash bail or $50,000 bond.

The Oneida Police Department would like to recognize the quick actions of the responding officers, who were able to rapidly locate the suspect and recover the stolen property and items related to the incident.

All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Source: Oneida City Police Dept