Journal News, November 30, 2005: A guard shot it out with two would-be robbers today in front of a check cashing store, killing one and possibly injuring the second. The second robber escaped. The shootout happened around 8:30 a.m. at American Check Cashing and Finance Service, 242 S. Fulton Ave., as it opened for business. Michael Colasuonno, co-owner of the business, gave this account: Two female employees were entering the store as the security guard, 62 years old, watched from a pickup truck. One robber tried to push into the place behind one of the women. The guard stepped out of the truck, pulled a gun and exchanged fire with the would-be robbers. One fell dead; the other ran off. The guard and female employees were not injured, Colasuonno said. The shootout left the store window shattered. A would-be robber’s 9mm gun lay beneath the guard’s car. A pile of bloody clothes sat on the sidewalk in front of the store.
Newsday, October 19, 2005: An off-duty police officer shot at two men who attempted to rob him Tuesday evening as he was preparing to enter his car. The officer, who was not identified by police Tuesday night, had purchased a newspaper inside of Farmer’s Deli at 142-01 Farmer’s Blvd. in Jamaica and was walking back to his gray Mustang. About 6:20 p.m., he was approached by two men, one of them had a gun. He pointed it at the off-duty officer. “Give me your — — ,” one of the suspects demanded. Instead, the off-duty officer pulled out a gun and fired one to two shots, police said. Investigators believe a shot struck one of the two suspects in the leg. Police had several suspects in custody Tuesday night and charges were pending.
Buffalo News, August 29, 2005: A security guard at the Copacabana Bar, 751 Fillmore Ave., returned fire early Sunday after shots were fired at him, according to Ferry-Fillmore District officers. Bobby D. Lee told police that several shots were fired at him at 3:45 a.m. and that “he saw a weapon pointed at him and flash from the muzzle.” He fired three shots from his gun, for which he has a permit, and the man fled east on Broadway.
Capital News 9, July 8, 2005: Hamilton County investigators said Joan O’Neill shot her husband in the back, killing him inside their home in the Town of Wells. Joan was charged with Second Degree murder. Now, the grand jury has reached a different conclusion. “She will face no criminal charges and no prosecution for the events that took place on May 4,” said Special Prosecutor Louise Sira. At a press conference, Special Prosecutor Louise Sira painted a dark picture of how the events unfolded over the years. “Mr. O’Neill has suffered from post traumatic stress disorder. He is a combat veteran of Vietnam,” said Sira. He is also decorated for saving another soldier’s life. But Sira said the stress that ended his career as a Schenectady police officer also led to threats against his family, and were backed up by the nine illegally owned and loaded handguns he kept around the house. “Mr. O’Neill made it extremely clear to Mrs. O’Neill that if she called the police again, he would kill the police officer who came to the house,” said Sira. Officials said Robert chose their Pumpkin Hollow Road home based on its strategic location. It overlooks Route 30 and Pumpkin Hollow Road, and the high ground usually wins in a battle. That’s one reason why officials said the threats were taken so seriously. Mrs. O’Neill’s attorney said a visit from the police would have led to tragedy. Attorney William Martuscello said, “He was going to be ready for them. It was going to be a blood bath.” It came to a head May 4. Officials said Robert got into a fight with his son, and things quickly got out of hand. “Mrs. O’Neill heard the bolt action of the rifle that had been broken in the previous altercation,” said Sira. And that’s when Joan made the decision to end the fight, without risking the lives of police officers who would be targeted if called to the scene.
Tonawanda News, May 5, 2005: A Town of Tonawanda business owner may face assault charges after shooting a suspect who burglarized his business Monday. Eric P. Willis and Jarmar D. Pierce both of Buffalo, were attempting to burglarize a Woodward Avenue business when an employee discovered Willis inside the building, according to Detective Lt. Stephen Caruana. Police said Willis entered the building through a back door while Pierce stood guard outside. An employee discovered Willis in his office, rummaging through the desk and holding the employee’s wallet. The business owner, whose name is being withheld for fear of retaliation, and an employee pursued Willis on foot after the two men fled the scene. Caruana said the business owner fired four “warning shots,” one of which hit Willis in the leg. Police arrived on the scene and arrested Willis, who is charged with second-degree burglary, possession of burglar’s tools and criminal possession of a weapon. Pierce was caught on Woodward Avenue and found to be carrying a loaded, sawed-off shotgun in the front of his pants and a round of shotgun ammunition in his coat pocket. Pierce was arrested and charged with second-degree burglary, possession of burglar’s tools and four counts of felony weapons possession. Charges against the business owner, who has a pistol permit, are pending.
WKBW, April 21, 2005: Niagara Falls Police tell us two suspects with a gun, attempted to rob a pizza deliveryman on Pierce Avenue about 10 p.m. Wednesday. The deliveryman pulled out a gun and fatally shot one of the suspects at point blank range. The second suspect took off on foot; he remains at large. Although the shooting appears to be a case a self-defense, police are still investigating the case as a homicide. The deliveryman works for Mr. Ventry’s Pizza, which is located just a few blocks down from the shooting. UPDATE, Buffalo News, June 26, 2005: The pizza deliveryman who shot and killed a 16-year-old during an apparent robbery attempt April 20 will not be charged. The deliveryman said Friday his attorney, Michael J. Violante, informed him that a Niagara County grand jury that reviewed evidence in the case voted Thursday to return a no-bill, which means it finds no grounds for charges. The 54-year-old man, whose name has been withheld by the media because of his concerns about his safety, shot Anthony M. Sheard of 13th Street on April 20 in an alley off the 1300 block of Pierce Avenue. The deliveryman for Mr. Ventry’s Pizza said Sheard, a reputed gang member, and another youth were trying to rob him. They were armed with a pellet gun designed to look like a Walther PPK handgun. The deliveryman used a .40-caliber semiautomatic handgun he bought after being robbed three years ago. Police, who called it a “justified homicide,” have charged Aldeaz M. Lewis, 16, of Elmwood Avenue, with second-degree robbery in the case.
Buffalo News, April 20, 2005: A clerk at the Sunoco station at 1266 E. Delavan Ave. averted a robbery attempt Sunday morning when he grabbed a gun that the robber was pointing in his face, police said. Northeast District police said a gunman entered the store sometime between 1:10 and 2:20 a.m. and demanded cash. Officers said the robber ran out of the store empty-handed when the employee took his gun.
Democrat & Chronicle, April 8, 2005: In its second day of deliberations, a jury Thursday acquitted a Rochester man of murdering another man in front of his home last year. George Ellis was found not guilty of second-degree murder and first-degree assault in connection with the April 23 shootings of Pacer Williams and Clarence Robinson Sr.. Williams died from his injuries. Ellis, who testified at his trial, claimed he acted in self-defense. Ellis had been involved with an argument with tenants earlier in the night. “The testimony was he was ambushed by the decedent’s family,” said defense lawyer Lawrence Kasperek. “Relatives of the tenants showed up after the altercation, and when he returned, he was fired upon.” Kasperek said witnesses reported multiple gunshots were fired. Ellis went inside and returned with a long gun and returned fire, he said. “We’re relieved by the jury’s verdict,” Kasperek said.
Canarsie Courier, March 24, 2005: In what some police officers described as a shootout that “looked like it was a movie,” a suspected gunman who took part in an attempted home invasion robbery was shot four times by his intended victim, police from the 69th Precinct said. The victim’s name was not released. The suspect, Negus Martin and another man, had apparently followed the victim as he entered his home on Flatlands Avenue at about 7:45 p.m. on March 21 and, wielding handguns, forced their way inside. As they forced the man and his wife to go to the basement, the victim’s wife distracted Martin, giving the victim a chance to swing around, grab the gun from Martin’s hand and force both suspects back to the front door. As the second man aimed his weapon in his direction, the victim drew his own licensed 9mm handgun and fired, wounding Martin, who fell to the outside steps of the house. The second suspect aimed his gun at the victim again while helping Martin to his feet and the victim fired “several more shots” at the two suspects who fled in a waiting car. Neither the victim nor his wife was wounded in the shootout. Less than an hour later, Martin walked into Kings County Hospital with four gunshot wounds to his chest and arms. Hospital authorities immediately called police. He was later positively identified by the victim, police said. They are still searching for the second suspect. According to local authorities, there were no charges filed against the victim who shot Martin.
Newsday, March 6, 2005: A North Bellport resident surprised an armed burglar who tried to break into his home, when he grabbed a shotgun and fired at the man, hitting him in the shoulder. Cheyenne Ray was alerted by his girlfriend, Tanya Rivera, that she heard a noise at the front door about 1:30 a.m., said Fifth Squad Det. Sgt. Kenneth Hamilton. Ray looked through the glass storm door and saw a hand holding a 9-mm pistol strike the glass. Ray went into the kitchen, got a shotgun, and fired one shot at the door. The burglar dropped the gun and ran off, Hamilton said. The alleged burglar, Marion Gillard, was later spotted in the area with a gunshot wound in his shoulder and was arrested by police. He was taken to Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center before being transferred to Stony Brook University Hospital where he was being evaluated yesterday. Ray could not be reached for comment. Gillard, who Hamilton said has a prior arrest for first-degree robbery, is charged with first-degree burglary and could face further charges.
Newsday, February 20, 2005: A Wyandanch man fatally shot a 20-year-old man who tried to enter his home through a window. Tyrell Rudolph was discovered in front of a home on Parkway Boulevard with gunshot wounds to his chest and left arm. The alleged shooter, Sanjay Broomfield, was charged with criminal possession of a weapon. Broomfield, a baker at Entenmann’s in Bay Shore, told police he fell asleep Friday night, after working a double-shift, said Det. Sgt. Vincent Posillico. He said he was awoken at 9 p.m. by someone vigorously knocking and ringing the bell at the front door of his residence. Posillico said Broomfield told police he looked out the window and saw two men leaving his yard. He then fell back asleep only to be awoken again by similar noises. “He hears motion and people talking,” Posillico said. “He steps into the kitchen, where he has an illegal handgun … and shortly after that a person is seen coming in through the window.” Broomfield fired three times, Posillico said. Worried the intruders might return, Broomfield called police to report two suspicious persons in the area, but not the fired shots. When police arrived, they discovered Rudolph’s body. Broomfield then explained his version of what happened. Broomfield was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a weapon because the gun’s serial number had been defaced. Police are continuing their investigation.
WCBS, February 15, 2005: A jewelry storeowner takes action after some would-be robbers put a gun to his head, but instead of handing over the jewels, he pulled out a gun. The owner of Estate Jewelry thought he was about to make a sweet Valentines Day sale but instead, he became the victim of a horrifying ordeal. His store was about to be robbed, but the tables turned quickly. “They came in with guns and pointed a gun to my head. They wanted to rob my store. It is as simple as that. I defended myself,” says Barry Fixler, the would-be robbery victim. Fixler was alone in the store when he says two men walked in on Monday morning asking to look at diamond engagement rings. With not one but two assault rifles pointed at his head, Fixler says he was able to lunge away grabbing hold of his personal handgun firing off several rounds. Once the smoke cleared, one suspect was hit and the second man got away. The man believed to be getaway driver fled the scene but was caught moments after abandoning a brown minivan in a Toys R’Us parking lot in nearby Nanuet. Police believe [a third] suspect still on the run was hit during the gunfire and he could be seriously injured. Meanwhile, the suspect in custody underwent surgery Monday afternoon at Nyack hospital where he is listed in serious condition.
1010 WINS, February 5, 2005: A 70-year-old employee of a Bayport store foiled an armed robbery, grabbing a shotgun and with a neighbor holding two suspects until police arrived. Detective Lieutenant Edward Reilly, a Suffolk County police spokesman, says the two had entered the interior decorating store Friday afternoon, one armed with the shotgun. They allegedly confronted the employee, Allan Densing, who reacted by grabbing the weapon. Next door at an auto body shop, owner Sean Mullarkey, heard a commotion and came to the rescue. The police spokesman says one of the two suspects, a woman, tried to flee, but Mullarkey wrestled her to the ground. Police arrested and charged 20-year-old Carrie Lewis, of Bellport, and his alleged accomplice, 21-year-old Shalisea Doran, of Mastic Beach. The two are being arraigned today and charged with attempted robbery and criminal use of a firearm.
Herikimer Telegram, January 20, 2005: A Utica man was arrested Saturday after he broke into an occupied residence in the town of Frankfort and was held at gunpoint by the homeowner until state troopers arrived on the scene. Elvis Tricic allegedly broke into the home in the early morning hours, surprising the homeowner. The homeowner, a woman whose name was not released, had just arrived home from work when Tricic broke into the residence, said state police Sr. Inv. Joel Campbell. The woman then rushed to grab her .357 Magnum handgun and detained Tricic until authorities arrived on the scene. “The handgun was lawfully possessed,” said Campbell. “You have a right to defend yourself in your own home.”
WGRZ, January 13, 2005: It will be up to a grand jury to decide if charges will be filed against a Cattaraugus County man who shot his own brother. The incident happened late Tuesday night on Hammond Hill Road in the Town of East Otto. Cattaraugus County Sheriff Dennis John said Edward Thompson, 45, called 911 to say he just shot his 37-year old brother Kelly. Thompson said Kelly had just broken into his house and that the shooting was in self-defense. The younger brother was shot twice and died of his injuries.
