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Man fires off AK-47 in house during domestic incident in Wheatfield

Mon, Oct 31st 2016 05:30 pm

Staff Reports

The Niagara County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call Monday afternoon after a 46-year-old man fired multiple gunshots in his Wheatfield home.

Niagara County Sheriff James R. Voutour said the call was made by the subject's wife, who was threatened by her husband during the domestic incident in the 2900 block of Niagara Falls Boulevard.

Though the man fired multiple shots through a wall with an AK-47 rifle, the woman was able to flea the residence safely.

New York State Troopers, North Tonawanda Police officers and NCSO officers all surrounded the house, equipped with rifles, helmets and vests, Voutour said. They held the perimeter before the emergency response team arrived and a shelter was put in place on the boulevard between Ward Road and Mavis Drive.

Voutour said the situation lasted a couple hours.

Responders did not make contact with the subject upon arrival. After about 45 minutes, the subject, eventually, walked out of the back door of the residence.

Voutour said the man was highly intoxicated.

"He actually came out and asked what was going on," he said.

The subject was unarmed and taken into custody without incident.

"We take all the necessary precautions, but we like it to end peacefully like it did," Voutour said.

He said several charges are expected to be filed against the subject, likely including reckless endangerment. He also said there has been a past arrest at the house.

Voutour would not release the name of the subject in order to protect the victim.

He said the shooter will likely face arraignment at the Town of Wheatfield Court.

Within minutes after the incident was reported, phone messages warning nearby residents to stay in their homes were sent to landlines via the free NY-Alert system, Voutour said.

"It's very nice because, once we locate the house, we go to our 911 dispatch center, and (indicate) who we want notified," he said.

Messages are sent automatically to landline phones. Those who wish to be notified via their cell phones can sign up at www.nyalert.gov.

"We use it a lot at our office," Voutour said. "We found our community wants to know what's going on. So we put those alerts out. ... Any police agency can do it."

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