Falls police are searching for a suspect in the city’s first homicide of 2010.
Officers responded to a report of a man who appeared to be dead, found in an apartment building at Ontario Avenue and 18th Street at 7:30 p.m. Monday.
“They found Thomas Howard lying on the kitchen floor bleeding,” Falls Detective Capt. Ernest Palmer said. “There was lumber lying on top of him and some power tools were near his body.”
Palmer said Howard, 24, who lived in the apartment at 1803 Ontario Ave., was dead when police arrived, but it was not immediately clear how he had died.
“We found an entry wound in his chest, but we weren’t sure if it might have been an accident with one of the power tools,” Palmer said. “He was wearing safety glasses and appeared to have been working on a remodeling project. We believe he was building some kind of recording studio, there was that type of equipment there.”
Howard’s body was taken to Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center, where doctors took x-rays and found a bullet lodged in the victim’s spine. An autopsy by the Erie County Medical Examiner on Tuesday determined that Howard died from a “gunshot wound to the chest and bled out through his lungs.”
Palmer said Howard’s body was discovered by a friend who had gone to look for him when he failed to answer cell phone calls from his girlfriend. Howard lived in the apartment with his girlfriend but police said she was not home at the time of the shooting.
Neighbors in the apartment building reported hearing “a scuffle” in Howard’s apartment, but no gunshots.
The detective chief said early indications are a robbery attempt may have led to the slaying. Palmer declined to discuss specifics about what might have been taken from the apartment.
Howard had some previous brushes with law enforcement, including a small number of arrests on what were described as “minor charges.”
“There was nothing serious,” Palmer said.
Detectives are seeking assistance from the public in their investigation. Anyone who may have information about the murder is urged to contact the Falls police at 286-4553.
Crime
NIAGARA FALLS: City records first murder of 2010
- Crime
-
-
Marijuana mystery on Michigan Avenue solved
The mystery surrounding a Michigan Avenue marijuana grow house has been solved.
And a Falls man has been charged with running the pot farm that was found there in July. -
Crack dealer taken down on Orleans Avenue
Falls Narcotics Division detectives took down an Orleans Avenue crack dealer, literally, on Tuesday.
-
Niagara woman is fooled by ‘phisher’
Beverley Porter was taking a nap one day last week when her phone rang.
The scammer at the other end of the line had gotten lucky. After most likely making random calls to numbers in the 716 area code, he was able to catch the Town of Niagara woman when she was groggy, and slightly medicated from a minor surgical procedure earlier in the day. -
BLOTTER: Police reports published Feb. 8
A Falls man was arrested after a domestic incident in the 2200 block of LaSalle Avenue at 7:30 a.m. Monday.
-
BLOTTER: Police reports published Feb. 7
A Falls man was arrested on drunken driving and other charges after a traffic stop in the 400 block of Main Street at 5:20 a.m. Friday.
-
BLOTTER: Police reports published Feb. 6
Falls police had nothing new to report Sunday in the case of a missing 67-year-old LaSalle woman.
-
Nightclub stabbing investigated in Lockport
Lockport Police are investigating the stabbing of a man at a nightclub early Sunday morning.
-
Horse in ’bad shape’ seized from Somerset property
Niagara County Sheriff’s deputies were called to Carmen Road Saturday afternoon after a horse was found laying in a ditch without any restraints or supervision.
The person that found the horse tied it up, brought it some apple carrots and water and called police. They said it appeared the animal was malnourished and emaciated. -
Falls police looking for missing woman
Police are searching for a 67-year-old LaSalle woman who went missing Friday.
-
BLOTTER: Police reports published Feb. 5
Howard C. Irish, 55, 617 18th St., lower apartment, was charged with petit larceny and fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property.
- More Crime Headlines
-
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Video of Ga. Man Who Killed Girl Released
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case
White House Attacks Romney on Birth Control
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Mo. Teen Gets Life Sentence for Killing Girl, 9
Lower-hassle Screening to Be Tested at Airports
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Helmet Camera Captures Calif. Fire Rescue
Worker Tells 911: Powell 'exploded the House'
Triple Win: Santorum Takes Minn., Mo., Colo.
Injured Marine Inspired by Homecoming
No Rape Charges Against Son of NYPD Commissioner
Egypt's Ruling Generals Play Risky Game With US
Former Komen Exec Defends Funding Cut
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
Calif. Gay Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional
Jury Selection for Ex-UVa Athlete Enters 2nd Day
