The Ithaca area is often cited as a very safe place to live. There is crime to be sure, but most folks generally feel safe, and the crime rates bear that out. However, this year has been different for violent crime. There's been two murders in the city (including one on the Cornell campus), and one in a suburban town since late August. There have also been several non-fatal stabbings/shootings this year. Normally there's one murder in the area about every 4 to 5 years.
An article about the latest incident from the Ithaca Voice:
http://ithacavoice.com/2016/12/homic...im-identified/
Very disconcerting.