Police warn public to avoid armed Syracuse man near Franklin school

Syracuse police warned residents not to approach Lwe Moo, 31, after officers said he may have been armed and may have been headed toward Franklin Elementary School on South Alvord Street to take custody of his child. The school, at 428 S. Alvord St. in Syracuse’s 13208 area, became part of the police response because of the domestic incident.

Investigators said Moo allegedly made threatening statements toward his domestic partner and displayed what appeared to be a firearm. That combination put the case firmly in public-safety territory, especially because police said the situation could overlap with a child-custody dispute. Anyone who saw Moo was told to call 911 immediately and not try to handle the matter on their own.

Police said they worked with Franklin Elementary officials to put precautionary measures in place for students and staff. The Syracuse City School District lists Franklin Elementary as a PK-5 school with hours from 7:25 a.m. to 1:55 p.m., and Laura Mitchell is listed as principal. The school sits at 428 S. Alvord St., a location that quickly drew attention because of the possible connection between the domestic incident and the school day.

Sgt. Thomas Blake was identified in local coverage as the Syracuse police spokesperson tied to the warning. Later coverage said police were still searching for Moo and had not announced any new information, leaving the case active as officers continued to ask the public for help locating him.

The episode also underscored how quickly a domestic dispute can spill beyond a home and into a school community. For people facing domestic-violence concerns in Syracuse and Onondaga County, Vera House provides advocacy and safety-planning help, a reminder that support services can matter before a situation turns into a police emergency.