THE 12-YEAR-OLD POTSDAM SIXTH GRADER WAS FOUND UNCONSCIOUS IN THE HOME HE SHARED WITH HIS MOTHER AT 100 MARKET STREET AFTER A CALL TO A DISTURBANCE ABOUT 5:10 MONDAY AFTERNOON. EFFORTS TO REVIVE PHILLIPS FAILED; HE WAS TRANSPORTED BY POTSDAM RESCUE TO CANTON-POTSDAM HOSPITAL, WHERE HE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT 8:08PM.

TISCHLER TOLD REPORTERS GATHERED FOR AN UPDATE THIS MORNING AN AUTOPSY WAS CONDUCTED BY FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST DR. MICHAEL SIKIRICA AT ALBANY MEDICAL CENTER. TISCHLER SAYS UNTIL HE RECEIVES THE RESULTS, HE CANNOT CLASSIFY THE DEATH, OR SPECULATE WHETHER FOUL PLAY WAS INVOLVED:

TISCHLER DID NOT COMMENT ON WHETHER THERE WAS INGRESS OR EGRESS THROUGH A WINDOW AT NORTH COUNTRY MANOR APARTMENT NUMBER 4.

TISCHLER ALSO DID NOT CHARACTERIZE WHAT TYPE OF DISTURBANCE POLICE WERE CALLED TO.

STATE POLICE FORENSICS INVESTIGATORS ARE COMBING THROUGH THE SCENE LOOKING FOR CLUES.

NO SUSPECT IS IN CUSTODY.