Lewiston Police arrest one in bizarre Ridge Road shooting

by Terry Duffy
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, April 5, 2008

Lewiston Police responded to a call of shots fired at a Ridge Road residence Wednesday evening, and in the process uncovered an apparent love triangle turned grudge, which had out-of-state connections and ultimately ended with a suicide.

According to Lewiston Police Sgt. Frank Previte, at 8:41 p.m. Wednesday, police received a Niagara County Sheriff’s dispatch call of shots fired at 2583 Ridge Road. “We received information that someone had shot through the door … that someone shot the resident,” said Previte.

Upon their arrival, Lewiston Police encountered resident Todd A. Allen, 20, who stated that an individual later identified as Anthony J. Iadicicco, 28, had showed up at the residence. Iadicicco, who had apparently known the resident, pulled out a handgun from his jacket as Allen approached the door and fired off one round. The gunshot missed Allen, traveled through the door and into an interior wall in the hallway of the home. Iadicicco, who was positively identified by Allen, fled immediately following the incident. Lewiston Police issued an attempt to locate request on the assailant to all area law enforcement agencies soon after.

“Our ATL came up with former addresses in the North Tonawanda area,” said Previte. He related that North Tonawanda Police informed soon after of shots fired in the area – later advising that a suicide had occurred.

“At approximately 22:00 hours (10 p.m.) the North Tonawanda Police Department notified dispatch that they had a suicide in their city, and the subject was identified as Mr. Iadicicco,” said Previte who responded to the scene and confirmed the deceased subject was, in fact, the Lewiston shooter.

Soon after, police began to learn of the love triangle involving both the intended victim and the assailant. “North Tonawanda Police also provided information that there were two other males present in the residence at the scene of the suicide,” said Previte. He reported the two were detained for questioning and, following further investigation, it was found they were both in fact at the Ridge Road incident. Placed under arrest soon after was Michael D. Lunsford, 27, of Centerville, Tenn.

“All three were in Lewiston,” Previte said. He reported that Lunsford, described as a friend of Iadicicco, whose ex-girlfriend went on to befriend Allen, had transported him both to and from the Lewiston shooting. Previte added the unidentified former girlfriend of Iadicicco was also at the Ridge Road residence at the time of the shooting.

Lunsford was subsequently charged with criminal facilitation in the fourth degree for transporting Iadicicco, and taken to the Niagara County Jail. He was arraigned in Lewiston Town Court, with bail set at $1,000 cash or $2,000 bond. No charges were placed on the other man, who remains unidentified at this time.

In their discussions with Allen, police learned of death threats directed at him as a result of the love triangle. “The victim (Allen) told us he had military training; he had already been aware of a possible shooting” directed at him.

Lewiston Police were continuing their investigations into the shooting as the Sentinel went to press.