MAYVILLE — Potential jurors were sent home, and a trial for two Buffalo men facing weapons possession charges has been postponed in Chautauqua County Court over “COVID concerns” that arose Tuesday, a court clerk confirmed.

Iindividuals who had arrived at the Mayville courthouse for the beginning of jury selection in the case involving Torrie Jones and Mikial Moore were released. The two Erie County residents are being tried as co-defendants.

Details regarding the COVID-19 concerns in county court were not specified by the clerk, who added that no further information was available.

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However, Jason Schmidt, Chautauqua County district attorney, said the adjournment was a precautionary move.

“An individual involved with the trial was ill today,” Schmidt said. “Due to COVID concerns, a decision was made not to put the jurors at risk. Out of an abundance of caution the trial was postponed to a date to be determined later this year.”

He added, “It’s an unfortunate development, but this is the reality in which we are living right now.”

Moore and Jones are each facing a count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. They were indicted on the charges by a grand jury in August 2020.

The Buffalo residents had been jailed in Mayville following a shooting March 26, 2020, in front of 707 Jefferson St. in Jamestown. A city man drove himself to UPMC Chautauqua for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries after he was reportedly struck in the head.

An investigation by the Jamestown Police Department led to six arrests, including Moore and Jones.

During a search of the Jefferson Street home, investigators reportedly found four unlawfully possessed handguns along with 200 rounds of ammunition, 12 pounds of marijuana, 1.2 ounces of cocaine and around $4,000 in cash.

The trial was set to be the first held in county court in more than a year. In March, courts throughout New York state were given authorization to commence hearings and jury trials. Each county court system was required to submit a criminal jury plan/protocol to resume trials.