citycide

Last month, the 9th homicide of 2023 in the city of Niagara Falls took place on the formerly busy Pine Avenue in the Little Italy so-called tourist district, which has fallen on hard times, along with the rest of the city, over the past decades. Once a thriving thoroughfare of offices, stores and restaurants, including the famous Como which closed just last month, Pine Avenue is now characterized by a mishmosh of discount clothing stores, pawn shops, greasy spoons and the occasional weed dispensary, and is generally not a safe place to be after dark. Although media reports vary, it’s

Convicted killer Gabriel Behrens, 22, of Niagara Falls was sentenced the other day to 32 years in state prison for several crimes including murder, attempted robbery and criminal possession of a weapon. Here’s a photo posted on Behren’s Facebook page on January, 2023, approximately one month before the murder he committed:

Niagara Falls — On September 17, 2023, at around 6:45 pm, Niagara Falls Police were called to the intersection of 22nd Street and Pierce Avenue following reports of a hit-and-run incident involving several pedestrians. According to police, approximately six individuals were involved in a dispute and standing on the sidewalk near the intersection. Amidst the heated altercation, a 31-year-old woman involved in the disagreement entered a white 2011 Chevy Tahoe. She then maneuvered the vehicle into a nearby alley before deliberately driving onto the sidewalk, plowing into the group of pedestrians. The incident resulted in serious leg injuries for a

Desmond Zimmerman, 25, was shot to death early Saturday morning at 4th and Niagara Street, around the corner from the so-called Niagara Falls 3rd Street Tourist District. The Reporter exclusively discloses here, not reported by any other media outlet, that after both involved parties transported themselves to Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center, a gun was confiscated on hospital grounds. Apparently, one of the two antagonists was set on finishing what had been started. Desmond Zimmerman, aka “Popout SG,” was a well-known and universally liked and admired member of the community, resulting in outpourings of grief, disbelief and expressions of sympathy

McKenzie Munt, 18, of Sanborn, NY became the 7th victim of violent death this year in the city of Niagara Falls when she succumbed to injuries suffered in a gunfire incident late last month. According to the FBI Crime Report, which this news outlet has spotlighted annually over the past decade, the city of Niagara Falls is perennially at, or near the top of, all New York State cities in terms of both property and violent crime. This, for a city that welcomes some 9 million tourists a year. Actually the city doesn’t welcome those tourists at all – they

On Monday, June 19, a 44-year-old man was gunned down in cold blood on 18th Street in the city. A person of interest, Juan Ubiles, is presently the subject of a manhunt in and around the city. But whenever Monday comes, but whenever Monday comes But whenever Monday comes, you can find me cryin’ all of the time – John Phillips On Monday, April 24, a 16-year-old teen was gunned down in cold blood on Ashland Avenue in the city. These comprise the fifth and sixth homicides this year in the city of Niagara Falls, according to FBI statistics, the

LOCKPORT, NY: Earlier this week, County Court Judge John Ottaviano sentenced David P. Draper, 59, of Niagara Falls, to two to six years in State Prison on his conviction of Leaving the Scene of a Fatal Motor Vehicle Incident Without Reporting. Draper admitted to striking and killing 61 year old Barry C. Tierney who was riding his bike on Lewiston Road in Lewiston last September 11th. Draper proceeding home without stopping or reporting the incident. “The evidence in the case showed that the defendant had been drinking and that was the reason he did not stop and call police,” said

Curtis Pugh and the small arsenal the convicted felon was allegedly in possession of (Niagara Falls, New York) On Tuesday 04/04/2023, at 4:00 pm, members of the Niagara Falls Police Department Narcotics Intelligence Division executed a Search Warrant at 1005 17 th St. Items discovered and seized were: 1) 8 grams of suspected crack cocaine; 2) Taurus “Raging Hunter” .44 Magnum revolver; 3) Blackwater Firearms 12-gauge pump action shotgun; 4) Pioneer ArmsAKM-47 rifle; 4) Garaysar Fear 109 20-gauge pump action shotgun; 5) Ammunition; 6) High Capacity Magazines. The subject of the Search Warrant – PUGH, Curtis D (01/22/83) was charged

Paonessa’s alleged drug den as it appeared on a recent real estate website “Nice doggy, Nice doggy” from Facebook On Saturday March 25, 2023, members of the Niagara Falls Police Department’s Narcotics Intelligence Division, supported by members of the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office Drug Task Force, executed a Search Warrant at 2495 River Road. 33-year-old Michael Paonessa was taken into custody as the search uncovered 25 grams of suspected powdered fentanyl, 9 grams of suspected crack cocaine, 30 grams of suspected fentanyl tablets, packaging material and a police scanner. Paonessa was transported to the Niagara County Jail for multiple counts

In 2021, the latest year for which data is available, there were 9 homicide incidents reported by the Niagara Falls Police Department to the FBI. So far in 2023, there have been 4 homicides committed in the city of Niagara Falls. If the trend holds, the 2021 pace of murders committed will be nearly tripled. With a population of slightly under 50,000, that works out to approximately one homicide for every two thousand residents. If these numbers hold, the city of Niagara Falls will once again bear the burden of being the most dangerous city in the state, a title

At approximately 8:45 am on New Years Day, Niagara Falls Police responded to a home in the 2200 block of LaSalle Ave for a report of a man stabbed.  Upon arrival officers located a 33 year old Niagara Falls man suffering from a stab wound.  Despite efforts by AMR and Niagara Falls Fire Department, the victim succumbed to his injuries and pronounced dead at the scene. Today, Niagara Falls Police arrested a suspect in the homicide that occurred on the morning of January 1, 2023 in the 2200 block of LaSalle Ave.  The suspect is charged with one count of

Niagara County District Attorney Brian D. Seaman announced that Alfred M. Bax, 35 years old of Niagara Falls, plead guilty in County Court today to 2 counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree. The guilty plea was in satisfaction of an indictment charging Bax with the possession of 18 illegal firearms, many of which were “ghost guns” with no serial number, which Bax admitted to building himself.  The plea also covers a separate case in Niagara Falls City Court charging Bax with possessing cocaine.  The charges carry a maximum sentence of 15 years and a

Click the link below to subscribe to SPECIAL REPORTS from the Niagara Reporter http://eepurl.com/dnsYM9     By: Staff Reporter On June 9, 2021 at approximately 7:30 p.m. in the 600 block Elmwood Avenue, U.S. Marshals Task Force Officers assisted by Niagara Falls Police Narcotics Detectives located and arrested 28-year-old Niagara Falls resident Donald Rodgers. Rodgers was wanted on felony charges stemming from a May 20th incident where a Niagara Falls Narcotics Detective was dragged down the street as Rodgers fled in a car. The Detective only suffered minor injuries. During the arrest, Rodgers was located with a loaded .45 cal.

Click the link below to subscribe to SPECIAL REPORTS from the Niagara Reporter http://eepurl.com/dnsYM9     By: Staff Reporter Niagara Falls Police responded to the 700 block of Pine Avenue around 1425 hours on Sunday, May 2nd, 2021, after reports of an attempted arson. Upon arriving at the scene, police spoke with the complainant who stated that the front door of her porch was on fire. The complainant stated that she has “beef” with a male and that over the last few days they had been arguing over money that she possibly owed him for a care ride. The complainant

Click the link below to subscribe to SPECIAL REPORTS from the Niagara Reporter http://eepurl.com/dnsYM9     By: Staff Reporter Niagara Falls Police responded to Packard Court around 2000 hours on Saturday, May 1st, 2021, after reports of a robbery. Upon arriving at the scene, police were directed to the Community Center and to begin searching for a stolen Tigger costume. Officers spoke with several individuals at the party who stated that they did not know anything about a Tigger costume. Officers then went back to speak with the complainant who stated that she works for DJ Dance Boogie and was

Click the link below to subscribe to SPECIAL REPORTS from the Niagara Reporter http://eepurl.com/dnsYM9     By: Staff Reporter Niagara Falls Police responded to the area of 22nd and Woodlawn around 0600 hour son Wednesday, April 28th, 2021, after reports of a subject with a gun. Upon arrival, officers located a blue Mazda with a black female and black male. The vehicle was moving east on the 1800 block of Pine Avenue when officers initiated a traffic stop. Officers had both parties exit the vehicle at which time it was searched for weapons. A firearm was located shortly thereafter in

Click the link below to subscribe to SPECIAL REPORTS from the Niagara Reporter http://eepurl.com/dnsYM9     By: Staff Reporter Niagara Falls Police received a report around 2000 hours on Friday, April 16th, 2021, of aggravated harassment. According to the complainant, she is an employee of Quick Check Food Mart on the 4700 block of Hyde Park and that an unknown black female suspect entered the store without a facemask. The complainant stated she advised the woman that she is required to wear a mask while inside the store which immediately made the suspect irritated. The complainant then stated she attempted

Click the link below to subscribe to SPECIAL REPORTS from the Niagara Reporter http://eepurl.com/dnsYM9     By: Staff Reporter Niagara Falls Police responded to the 1600 block of Weston Avenue around 0120 hours on Thursday, April 8th, 2021, after reports of an assault with a deadly weapon. Upon arriving at the scene, police observed the complainant who was injured. The complainant stated that he had seen his friend fighting with another individual and attempted to break it up. The suspect then attempted to fight with the complainant and followed him. It was at this time the suspect took out a