Joe Augstell
Shooting Death Memorial in Niagara Falls, New York
Shooting death memorial in Niagara Falls, New York. On Friday March 11th, 2016 Elijah Little was shot and killed in the Packard Court housing projects of Niagara Falls, New York.
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Suspected Packard Court shooter claiming self-defense
INVESTIGATION: Man believed to have pulled the trigger in fatal incident is claiming self-defense.
By Rick Pfeiffer rick.pfeiffer@niagara-gazette.com Mar 15, 2016
A Niagara County grand jury will examine the evidence in a Friday night shooting in the Falls that left one man dead.
Both prosecutors and police confirmed that the case will head to a grand jury after detectives on Tuesday interviewed the man believed to have fired the fatal shots. Investigators met with the man and his attorney for some time and scheduled another meeting for Monday.
"I think after (the Monday meeting with detectives) we'll turn over what we have to the Niagara County District Attorney," Falls Police Detective Capt. Kelly Rizzo said.
Police said they responded to a call of "shots fired" in Packard Court at 9:30 p.m. Friday. The first patrol officers on the scene said they found the body of Elijah Little, 28, lying in a grass courtyard outside a Packard Court apartment.
Little, who had just been released from incarceration on March 8, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators said a "blood trail" led from the nearby apartment to Little's body. They also said information indicated that the call to police dispatchers had come from that apartment.
A short time later, police were able to get the residents of the apartment to come outside, "unarmed (and) with their hands up." The two residents "were separated and secured in police vehicles" while detectives from the Criminal Investigation Division and the Crime Scene Unit began to collect evidence.
Speaking at the scene Friday night, Rizzo said Little was shot just outside building 10-B Packard Court. The detective chief also said that Little had a previous relationship with a woman who lived at the residence.
Witnesses reported hearing two shots. The investigation has shown that Little was struck by a shotgun blast to his chest.
So far, no charges have been lodged against the man who fired the fatal shot. He has reportedly claimed that he fired at Little in self-defense, believing he was an intruder.
At the same time that detectives were at Packard Court, another "shots fired" call came in from the 600 block of 18th Street
The first officers on the scene said witnesses reported hearing up to three shots, but there was no victim.
A short time later, a 29-year-old man arrived at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center, suffering from gunshot wounds to his back and a thigh. The victim was rushed to the Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo, were he was treated for his injuries.
Detectives said the victim was released from the hospital on Tuesday.
The victim told investigators he doesn't know who shot him or why. Police said they are searching for a suspect in the attack.
BY THE NUMBERS
3 — Number of domestic violence-related homicides in the Falls in the first three months of the year.
www.niagara-gazette.com/news/local_news/suspected-packard...
Shooting Death Memorial in Niagara Falls, New York
Shooting death memorial in Niagara Falls, New York. On Friday March 11th, 2016 Elijah Little was shot and killed in the Packard Court housing projects of Niagara Falls, New York.
News Link:
Suspected Packard Court shooter claiming self-defense
INVESTIGATION: Man believed to have pulled the trigger in fatal incident is claiming self-defense.
By Rick Pfeiffer rick.pfeiffer@niagara-gazette.com Mar 15, 2016
A Niagara County grand jury will examine the evidence in a Friday night shooting in the Falls that left one man dead.
Both prosecutors and police confirmed that the case will head to a grand jury after detectives on Tuesday interviewed the man believed to have fired the fatal shots. Investigators met with the man and his attorney for some time and scheduled another meeting for Monday.
"I think after (the Monday meeting with detectives) we'll turn over what we have to the Niagara County District Attorney," Falls Police Detective Capt. Kelly Rizzo said.
Police said they responded to a call of "shots fired" in Packard Court at 9:30 p.m. Friday. The first patrol officers on the scene said they found the body of Elijah Little, 28, lying in a grass courtyard outside a Packard Court apartment.
Little, who had just been released from incarceration on March 8, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators said a "blood trail" led from the nearby apartment to Little's body. They also said information indicated that the call to police dispatchers had come from that apartment.
A short time later, police were able to get the residents of the apartment to come outside, "unarmed (and) with their hands up." The two residents "were separated and secured in police vehicles" while detectives from the Criminal Investigation Division and the Crime Scene Unit began to collect evidence.
Speaking at the scene Friday night, Rizzo said Little was shot just outside building 10-B Packard Court. The detective chief also said that Little had a previous relationship with a woman who lived at the residence.
Witnesses reported hearing two shots. The investigation has shown that Little was struck by a shotgun blast to his chest.
So far, no charges have been lodged against the man who fired the fatal shot. He has reportedly claimed that he fired at Little in self-defense, believing he was an intruder.
At the same time that detectives were at Packard Court, another "shots fired" call came in from the 600 block of 18th Street
The first officers on the scene said witnesses reported hearing up to three shots, but there was no victim.
A short time later, a 29-year-old man arrived at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center, suffering from gunshot wounds to his back and a thigh. The victim was rushed to the Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo, were he was treated for his injuries.
Detectives said the victim was released from the hospital on Tuesday.
The victim told investigators he doesn't know who shot him or why. Police said they are searching for a suspect in the attack.
BY THE NUMBERS
3 — Number of domestic violence-related homicides in the Falls in the first three months of the year.
www.niagara-gazette.com/news/local_news/suspected-packard...