LOCKPORT, N.Y. (WBEN) - Two boys have been charged with second degree murder in the weekend shooting death of Cheyenne Farewell, authorities in Lockport announced Wednesday.
The boys are age 16 and 17. Their names were not released because of their age. They were charged in Niagara Falls City Court with second degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon.
The shooting happened around 12:30 a.m. Saturday during a Halloween Party on 43 South Niagara Street in the City of Lockport. The gunfire came through a closed, metal garage door. Five other people, ranging in ages from 15 to 21, were also shot. Officials said none of the victims were the targets of the shooting but charged the two boys with murder because of their "depraved indifference".
Niagara County District Attorney Caroline Wojtaszek is asking anyone from the community with any knowledge of the case to come forward, especially other young people who attended the party who may be concerned that their parents will find out.
"This is a tragedy beyond words," Wojtaszek said. "Cheyenne was an innocent victim. She deserves justice. Her family deserves justice. And this community deserves justice...This could have been my teenage son or daughter. It could have been any one of our children. So I need parents of children who were at that party to encourage them to come forward and speak the truth about what happened that early morning."
There has been an increase in gun violence in Lockport this year. Wojtaszek said in her first three years as district attorney, there were only a maximum of four homicides. There has been 16 this year.
"Cheyenne Farewell was not part of this dispute," Wojtaszek said. "She was not part of the grudge between the people involved in this situation. She was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. So were the other five victims in this case. Yet, this morning, as we're doing this press conference, the Farewell family is burying their smart, talented, beautiful daughter, with the brightest of futures. For what?"
Wojtaszek declined to say who the target was or the relationship between the target and the shooters.
The two boys are scheduled to appear again in court on Monday morning. They have not yet been indicted by a grand jury. Wojtaszek said more charges are pending.
