By Nick MatteRA nick.mattera@niagara-gazette.com
A 20-year-old Niagara Falls man was shot late Saturday morning on Pine Avenue after a street fight escalated into a gun battle.
At 11:30 a.m., police already were en route to the scene at 30th Street and Pine Avenue when the call of “shots fired” came over the radio.
Witnesses at the scene said five males were fighting, when one man ran to a green Chevrolet Suburban and began to drive away. The vehicle then stopped and a suspect got out and fired two or three shots at the group men.
The victim was hit in the left rear buttocks and is being treated for non-life threatening injuries at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center. According to reports, the suspect fled the scene in the Suburban.
Police have identified Howard Welch, 18, 1526 Ferry Ave., as a person of interest and are actively looking for him. He is described as a 6-foot tall, 170-pound black male.
Saturday’s gunfire comes on the heels of a shootout in the 400 block of 16th Street on Tuesday afternoon and the killing of 22-year-old Lelton Kemp in Monteagle Ridge on Thursday morning.
Niagara Falls Police Superintendent John Chella said his department will not take this lying down.
“We are committed to getting this situation under control,” he said. “We will be very proactive in all violations of the law, and I mean from the littlest violations to the major felonies, there will be zero tolerance.”
Chella said the police department will reach out to the Sheriff’s Office, state police and ATF, if needed, to aid in bringing an end the recent string of violence on city streets.
“I don’t care if it happens at noon or midnight, there is still the potential to have innocent bystanders around,” Chella said. “No matter what time — day or night — these criminals seem quick to settle confrontations with gunfire and that has got to stop.”
Mayor Paul Dyster agreed saying the city will take unique measures to ensure the safety of residents.
“We’re looking to assemble some forces to be proactive and fight back in some ways the criminals won’t expect,” Dyster said.
The mayor is also very concerned over the recent violence and is committed to putting an end to it.
“We are not going to let the criminal element take over Pine Avenue,” Dyster said. “I have given the chief a broad latitude to act aggressively.”
Dyster said the city will beef up patrols in the area and make sure business owners know officers are on the streets.
“Starting this evening, we are increasing police patrols in the area,” Dyster said. “Police will be out in full force, showing the flag at as many businesses as possible.”
Both Chella and Dyster said they are committed to ensuring the safety of the residents of Niagara Falls and are confident they will be making an arrest in Saturday’s shooting shortly.
Contact reporter Nick Mattera at 282-2311, ext.2251.
