<!--Rick Pfeiffer--><table width="234" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" background="http://static.cnhi.zope.net/flashpromo/niagaragazette/images/byline_234x60.jpg" height="60"><tr><td><div align="center"><font size="3" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">By Rick Pfeiffer</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></font><font size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="mailto:rick.pfeiffer@niagara-gazette.com">rick.pfeiffer@niagara-gazette.com</a></font></div></td></tr></table>
Falls Police are investigating their first homicide of 2010.
Officers said they responded to a report of a dead man in an apartment on Ontario Avenue at 7:30 p.m. Monday. When they arrived at 1805 Ontario Ave. Apt. 1., they found the body of Thomas T. Howard, Jr., 24, who lived at that address.
Howard was found in the kitchen, beneath some lumber, with some power tools near his body. He was wearing safety glasses and appeared to have been working on a remodeling project.
His body was discovered by a neighbor, who then called police.
An examination of the body revealed a gunshot wound to the upper left chest. An autopsy is underway at the Erie County Medical Center.
Detectives are looking at robbery as a possible motive.
Anyone who may have information about the murder is urged to contact the Falls Police at 286-4553.
