A Cayuga County man will be in Baldwinsville Village Court today for a preliminary hearing on attempted murder and assault charges.

David J. Jones, 37, of 10425 Route 38, Port Byron, has been charged with the felony crimes of second-degree attempted murder, second-degree assault, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and the misdemeanor charge of second-degree menacing.

Baldwinsville Village Police reported Jones arrived to the Syracuse Home Association workplace of an ex-girlfriend, wearing a camouflage mask. As the woman left work and got into her vehicle late Saturday, she found her vehicle had a flat tire and would not start.

Then Jones smashed out the driver's side window and shoved a shotgun into the woman's face, police said.

The mask was see-through and the woman told police she recognized the man's voice as her ex-boyfriend's. Jones climbed into the vehicle and threatened to kill her, police said.

Jones pointed the shotgun barrel at his ex-girlfriend's head, but she grabbed the barrel and moved it away from her body as a shot was fired, police said. She darted from the vehicle, but Jones caught her and hit her head with the shotgun.

The woman's co-workers, however, witnessed the incident, and Jones fled as they began yelling at him, police said. Police responded to a 911 call at 11:31 p.m.

Jones was taken into custody at his brother's residence in Port Byron by Cayuga County Sheriff's Deputies and Baldwinsville Police as a Baldwinsville police officer talked with him on the telephone.

The victim was treated at Crouse Irving Memorial Hospital in Syracuse for a broken hand and cuts to her head.

Jones was arraigned before Baldwinsville Village Justice Timothy McMahon and is being held without bail.

Staff writer Amaris Elliott-Engel can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or at amaris.elliot-engel@lee.net