Niagara Falls Police Investigating Memorial Day Shooting on 16th Street
Niagara Falls, NY – May 26, 2025 — A peaceful Memorial Day afternoon was shattered by violence as police responded to reports of a shooting in the city’s south end. The incident occurred shortly after 5:00 PM in the 700 block of 16th Street, prompting an immediate response from Niagara Falls Police.
Officers were dispatched to the scene after multiple 911 calls reported gunshots in the neighborhood. While en route, police were informed that an adult male gunshot victim had arrived at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center via a private vehicle. Emergency room staff confirmed that the man had sustained a gunshot wound to the neck. Due to the severity of the injury, he was quickly transferred to Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) in Buffalo for advanced trauma care.
As of Tuesday morning, the victim is listed in stable but serious condition, according to officials. His identity has not yet been released.
Crime Scene Located in Alleyway
Upon arrival at the 700 block of 16th Street, officers established a crime scene in an alleyway between 15th and 16th Streets. Investigators located evidence consistent with a shooting, including shell casings and potential surveillance footage from nearby residences and businesses. The area was cordoned off as detectives worked into the evening to collect forensic evidence and interview potential witnesses.
Witness accounts suggest the suspect fled on foot toward Pine Avenue, though authorities have not yet publicly identified a suspect. The shooter’s motive remains unclear, and police have not indicated whether the incident was targeted or random.
Community on Edge
Residents of the neighborhood say they are alarmed but not entirely surprised by the violence. The area has seen occasional surges in crime, and Monday’s shooting marks another chapter in a troubling pattern.
“I was outside on my porch when I heard the shots—maybe five or six of them,” said one nearby resident, who declined to be identified. “Then I saw someone running down the alley. It was chaos.”
Others expressed concern about the rising number of incidents involving gun violence and stressed the need for greater community engagement and police presence in the area.
Ongoing Investigation
The Niagara Falls Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division is leading the case. Authorities are actively working to identify and locate the suspect and are urging the public to come forward with any relevant information.
“We are appealing to anyone who may have seen or heard something, no matter how minor it may seem,” said a spokesperson for the department. “Even the smallest piece of information can help move this case forward.”
How to Help
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Niagara Falls Police Department or submit an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers. The department is also reviewing security footage from surrounding areas and asking local residents to check their surveillance systems for any suspicious activity between 4:30 PM and 5:30 PM on May 26.
As the investigation continues, the Niagara Falls community remains hopeful that swift justice will be served, and that the victim will recover from his injuries. The shooting has cast a somber tone over what should have been a day of remembrance and peace, underscoring the urgent need for efforts to curb violence in the city.
This is a developing story. Updates will be provided as new information becomes available.
